This photograph shows undated pictures provided by the U.S. Department of Justice on Jan. 30, 2026 as part of the Jeffrey Epstein files. Photo: Photo by Martin Bureau/AFP via Getty Images

With each successive trove of documents from the Epstein files the Department of Justice releases, we're treated to rare insight into how our ruling class behaves in private, and how connected many of them were to the late sex trafficker. 

The list of elites who maintained close relationships with Epstein is long and includes prominent politicians, media figures, academics, and business leaders. In contrast, the list of people who have faced any meaningful consequences, at least in the United States, is so far quite short. Recently, Brad Karp, a top Democratic Party fundraising "bundler," was removed as chair of the white-shoe law firm Paul Weiss after his extensive ties to Epstein were revealed. Peter Attia, the celebrity doctor and a new hire at Bari Weiss' CBS News, resigned from a protein bar company after emails showed him making dirty jokes with Epstein. The economist Larry Summers was deemed toxic after a previous DOJ disclosure, and despite his intention to continue teaching, was put on leave by Harvard and unceremoniously dropped by numerous institutions. So far, that's about the extent of it.

To be very explicit, this lack of serious consequences is a choice that powerful people in the United States are making. Meanwhile, in the United Kingdom, Prince Andrew is prince no more, reduced to merely Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor after King Charles removed all of his remaining royal titles; the former CEO of Barclays has been barred from the finance industry; the British ambassador to the United States, Peter Mandelson, has been forced out; Morgan McSweeney, Prime Minister Keir Starmer's chief of staff and a Mandelson protege, was forced to resign under pressure; and Starmer risks losing his post over the Mandelson appointment. In Slovakia, the national security adviser to the prime minister has resigned. Accountability, if you care to enforce it, is in fact possible.

But on this side of the pond, elites have moved to protect powerful people with Epstein connections (themselves included). Donald Trump is the most obvious example; for any other president, the relationship between the two men would have been a fast track to impeachment. The documents also reveal how many powerful people maintained relationships with Epstein years after he was convicted of soliciting a minor for prostitution in 2008: Among them are former presidential adviser and current podcast bro Steve Bannon, Trump's Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Tesla et al. CEO and "MechaHitler" progenitor Elon Musk, LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, Palantir co-founder Peter Thiel, and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates. Extensive redactions to the documents by the Justice Department have slow-walked matters even further, but on Tuesday, Rep. Ro Khanna took aim by reading off the names of "six wealthy, powerful men that the DOJ hid for no apparent reason" on the floor of Congress.

If there's to be any measure of accountability, the powerful people who palled around with Epstein, asked his advice, or otherwise provided cover for him need to be cast out of polite society forever.

To make matters worse, many figures who appear in the files have reacted to the ongoing Epstein disclosures in ways that merit aggressive eyebrow raising. After the threat of being held in contempt of Congress, former President Bill Clinton, who for years had a close relationship with Epstein, and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have finally, under pressure, agreed to testify before the House Oversight Committee. The Clintons resisted subpoenas, even calling them "invalid and legally unenforceable," until a bipartisan majority of the House Oversight Committee voted to move the measure to hold them in contempt to the full House. Before that inflection point, they apparently expected Democrats to close ranks around them, as they always have in the past. Republican maneuvering aside, the presumption that noncompliance with a legitimate subpoena from Congress is somehow permissible, or even noble, reflects the air of impunity that ruling elites have toward basic functions of the rule of law.

But make no mistake: If there's to be any measure of real accountability, the powerful people who palled around with Epstein, asked his advice, or otherwise provided cover for him need to be cast out of polite society forever.

Beyond being packed with salacious gossip and more than enough material for months more of investigative journalism, the newly released documents are striking in how they reveal elites' widespread casual disdain for us commoners. Perhaps more than anything, the Epstein files are jarring for how transparently they communicate that members of our elite believe that norms, consequences, and even laws don't apply to them. There seems to be no end to the number of emails from powerful people seeking out Epstein's advice for how to handle controversies ranging from sexual assault allegations to formal human resources investigations to media scrutiny. (Former Arizona State University professor Lawrence Krauss is probably the clearest example; as Grace Panetta wrote for The 19th, "Krauss turned to Epstein for public relations advice and strategy, sent him possible cross-examination questions for his accusers, forwarded an article on the dos and don'ts for apologizing, and fielded Epstein's edits and feedback on draft statements.") 

Not to put too fine a point on it, but it should absolutely be disqualifying to seek image management tips from someone like Epstein, particularly years after they pleaded guilty to soliciting sex from a minor. If you're running to a convicted child sex trafficker to plan your PR strategy, if you're chummily asking for his insights and making social plans, or if you are seeking advice on how to use professional leverage to induce a subordinate to have sex with you, then you are probably someone we should never hear from again.

It is worth being quite clear here: This does not mean everyone who makes any appearance at all in the files needs to be excised from public life. For instance, the political commentators Megan McArdle, Josh Barro, Ben Dreyfuss, and Ross Douthat recently recorded a podcast episode titled "We're All in the Epstein Files," which notes that they all are there because of tweets that a third party shared with Epstein, mostly via a newsletter sent out by Gregory Brown. That sort of thing is not the point. In order to actually clean house, we need to be clear where the dirt is. 

But there are many cases where influential figures were cavorting with Epstein for years, maintaining close relationships with a prominent sex trafficker, and often being creepy in the correspondence itself. In many more, the emails became damning in context. 

For example, the MIT Media Lab, an initiative heavily backed by billionaire Hoffman, accepted Epstein's donations for years after his conviction, including soliciting donations in 2016. Importantly, MIT Media Lab staff internally flagged Epstein's criminal history in 2013 — even sending a helpful link to his Wikipedia page — when Media Lab director Joichi Ito raised him as a prospective funder, according to a report commissioned by the university. Ito ignored those concerns, accepted Epstein's money, and remained in touch until well into 2019, including exchanging text messages in May, just three months before Epstein's death.

The new documents also show Ito attempted to arrange a meeting with himself, Hoffman, and Epstein during a 2016 conference, while promising to "drag interesting [p]eople over" from the conference to a nearby house. That awkwardness is compounded by the fact that the MIT Media Lab gave Epstein an appreciation gift even later in 2017. Ito, for his part, did resign from MIT, as well as from the boards of multiple foundations in 2019.

Or take prominent evolutionary biologist Robert Trivers, who continued to solicit funding from Epstein until at least 2017, based on a check from January and a thank you note from August of that year. Trivers, along with Ito, shows how Epstein was still influential in shaping our public discourse long after he became a publicly known sex offender. In a February 2017 email, Trivers even passed along a "small joke" about his association with Epstein being described as a "folly" and he a "fool" for continuing the relationship (an allusion to Trivers' book The Folly of Fools). Trivers also credited Epstein with coming up with the idea to branch out in order to land speaking gigs, which resulted in a speaking engagement in London.

The Epstein saga has been unfolding against the backdrop of eroding trust in institutions and elites. What it has taught the public so far is that elites were undeserving of our implicit trust in the first place and, more broadly, that their shared interests are only with one another. If we want to move back toward a healthy public sphere where people are able to believe in the system and their ability to shape it, we need to reform it to be worthy of that trust. That will require never again letting people lacking any concept of basic human decency set the terms of our public discourse, dictate our moral frameworks, wield the powers of our government, or serve as our leaders. We need to cast out the creeps — permanently.

The post Americans Want Accountability With the Epstein Files. Elites Couldn't Care Less appeared first on The Intercept.

Here's a prediction: this ends poorly.

A Peter Thiel-backed drone maker is also in the contracts.

Even with the poop joke. Especially with the poop joke, even.

More from a press release issued by Suzuki Motor USA:

Ken Roczen Delivers Dominating Victory at Round Five of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship.

Glendale, Arizona provided warm weather for Round 5 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross season, which also served as Round 5 for the SMX World Championship. The Supercross track inside State Farm Stadium challenged the riders and thrilled the fans with high speeds, tall obstacles, and a technical sand section.

Race Highlights:

• Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear ECSTAR Suzuki
  • 450 Class
    • Ken Roczen earned his first victory of the season and advanced into second place in the championship standings.
• Twisted Tea Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance
  • 450 Class
    • Jason Anderson blitzed through the pack to recover maximum points after a first-turn incident.
    • Colt Nichols used newfound speed to gain positions throughout the Glendale main event.

 

Ken Roczen (94) was the fastest rider in Arizona, setting the quickest lap of the main event en route to a dominating win of the Glendale Supercross. Photo courtesy Suzuki

 

Ken Roczen (94) came into Round 5 with three Glendale wins already under his belt. Roczen slotted his Suzuki RM-Z450 into the starting gate with his sights set on his first main event victory of 2026. Roczen got a good jump off the gate and a strong drive down the start straight. Another rider pushed Roczen wide, and he crossed the holeshot stripe in third position. Roczen was quickly into second, then used an aggressive inside line in the sand section to take over the lead entering the fourth lap. From there, Roczen balanced aggression and finesse; he steadily pulled a five second gap as the track deteriorated and the lapped riders thickened. Roczen crossed the checkers and earned his fourth Supercross win in Glendale, his third on a Suzuki RM-Z450. The victory moved Roczen into second position in the point standings, just five points away from running the red plate. Roczen has now won a Supercross main event every year since joining the Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear ECSTAR Suzuki team in 2023. 

"Glendale, Arizona, you have been a hell of a [good] time," Roczen said back at the rig. "We always want to get better. Our riding has been so good over these last few weeks, but we were lacking in the starts. So, we did a bunch of testing this week for the first time in a long time. I'm glad that we did, because it shows that we want to get better, and starts nowadays are so important. Tonight we got a good start in the main event and we just had overall such good momentum. My motorcycle worked great, and we were able to take it all the way to the checkered flag. [It was] a phenomenal first place for me as part of my family, Griff, my oldest, and my wife were here. So, to do it again in Arizona, this is my fourth win [here], I kind of have to let it sink in a little bit on the flight home and enjoy this one." 

Roczen dedicated the win to his Team Manager, Larry Brooks, who recently announced a battle with Stage 2 colon cancer that is being met with determination and optimism. On the podium, Roczen told the stadium crowd and viewers at home, "I want to dedicate this race win specifically to Larry. He hasn't been able to be with us here the last few races, which really hurts all of our hearts. He loves this more than anybody; this one goes out to him. We're talking every single day, morning 'till night, and even though he couldn't be here, I dedicate this win to him. Larry, I love you. Congrats as well."  

 

Jason Anderson (21) set the fastest time through the whoops section in the Glendale main event. Photo courtesy Suzuki

 

Jason Anderson (21) grabbed his fourth heat race podium in four heat race starts (Round 4's Triple Crown format forgoes heat races). Anderson showed incredible speed through the whoops section and recorded the fastest time for that track sector in his heat. In the main event, Anderson ran into trouble early and found himself in 21st place when the racers commenced lap one. Anderson kept his speed advantage in the whoops section, again setting the fastest sector time, and gained ten positions over the 20-minute plus one lap race. 

"This weekend was not the best, but my riding was a lot better in the main event, so that was nice," Anderson reported. "In the heat race I started in [fifth], got up to third, and ended up third. And then in the main event I [got squeezed on the corner exit and] stalled it in the first corner and then worked my way back up to 11th. I think my riding was quite a bit better than where I finished, but we'll get there."

 

Colt Nichols (45) picked himself off the ground in the first corner then charged forward to capture strong championship points. Photo courtesy Suzuki

 

Colt Nichols (45) was able to once again get up to race speed early in the day; he matched his season-best qualifying position in the first session. He kept the ball rolling into the night's racing and matched his season-best heat race result for a direct transfer into the main event. When racers entered the first corner of the main, Nichols was entangled up in a multi-rider crash. Nichols quickly remounted and set out after the pack; he clawed his way forward and matched his overall result from the previous three rounds. 

"I crashed in the first turn with [two other riders who collided]," said Nichols. "I tried to do everything I could to come back, but the field was pretty spread out, not like in a big group, and I just couldn't really do anything with it. So, P-16 for the night. I'm frustrated, I want to get out of the gate better and try to put myself in a better position. I'm sick of being back there. [My position is] just the result of being back in the back of the pack, being stuck, and running into guys and crashing. We just need to be better out of the gate, straight up. But my riding's a lot better. I'm improving every weekend through practice and the heats. I've just got to be better in the main." 

"It was a really, really great night for the team. Ken with the win; it's a really big win at a really big point in the season," reported Dustin Pipes, Principal for the Twisted Tea/H.E.P. Motorsports/Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance Team. "We closed the points gap, we're down five points now, and more importantly he really rode great. It was a complete win, and it was very good to see. Obviously with the news of Larry being out for an extended period of time, Ken has been wanting to get a win for him. It's good that he got this weight off his shoulders and he was able to get this win for Larry, because he's someone that's on our minds and in our prayers. Jason and Colt also rode extremely well. The results didn't show it, but first-turn wrecks had both guys [in 20th and 21st]. Jason's times were comparable to the top five, and I think if we wouldn't have fallen that's where he would have finished; Colt would've been right around the top ten. What's great about Ken's win is that it's putting us on a good trajectory for the rest of the season."

The Supercross season moves north and west to Lumen Field, the home stadium of the Superbowl-winning Seattle Seahawks, where Round 6 takes place on Saturday, February 14th. The Suzuki riders and team members have proven they have the equipment and the talent to win, and they are looking ahead to more outstanding performances in the 2026 season.

For the latest team updates, news, and race insights, visit SuzukiCycles.com/Racing/Motocross or pipesmotorsportsgroup.com.

 

 

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More from a press release issued by Honda HRC:

Hunter Lawrence takes over title-fight lead at Glendale Supercross.

・Fourth consecutive second-place result for the Australian

・Lawrence earns career-first 450SX red plate to Seattle

In front of a record-breaking crowd in Glendale, Arizona, for round 5 of AMA Supercross, the premier-class main event delivered high drama in the championship fight. Hunter Lawrence powered to a strong second-place finish-his fourth runner-up result in a row-and, for the first time in his 450SX career, took possession of the red plate that goes to the championship leader.

The 450SX main event saw the Honda HRC Progressive rider launch from the gate in third, but he wasted no time charging forward, taking over the lead on the opening lap. Lawrence set the pace for several laps before being overtaken by Ken Roczen, at which point he settled into a consistent rhythm and maintained a comfortable gap over third place. A signature late-race surge wasn't enough for the Australian to reach Roczen, and Lawrence crossed the checkered flag in second place.

With championship rival Eli Tomac involved in a first-lap incident and finishing 12th, Lawrence now leads the 450SX championship standings by five points over Roczen, marking an important milestone in his career and strengthening his position in the championship fight.

 

Hunter Lawrence (96) at Glendale. Photo courtesy Honda HRC.

 

NOTES

・Scottsdale dealership Western Honda Powersports activated a pop-up booth in Honda HRC Progressive's pits, featuring a CRF450RWE motocrosser and a CRF-E2 electric minibike. Dealership staff used the opportunity to connect directly with fans and customers.

・Fans in Glendale enjoyed meeting Hunter Lawrence during a private autograph session while his teammates continue to recover from injuries.

・Peacock's broadcast coverage of the race included a profile on Honda HRC Progressive Team Manager Lars Lindstrom, who started with the team as a shop assistant and worked his way up. Lars' father Gunnar also worked as the squad's team manager in 1979 and '80. Lars was also interviewed in the booth during Race Day Live.

・Also interviewed for the broadcast was SLR Honda rider Mikayla Nielsen, in a feature on the Women's Motocross Championship, which will be featured in a showcase race at the SMX World Championship Final in September.

・Hunter Lawrence placed fourth in 450SX combined qualifying. Quad Lock Honda rider Joey Savatgy turned in the seventh-fastest time overall, followed by teammates Christian Craig in 14th and Shane McElrath in 17th. Other Red Riders included John Short IV in 28th (Short Racing), Zack Williams in 31st (McGinley Clinic) and Luke Kalaitzian in 33rd (Kalaitzian Brothers Racing).

・In 250SX combined qualifying, participating Red Riders included SLR Honda racers Justin Rodbell and Matti Jorgensen in 17th and 27th, respectively; Next Level riders Hunter Schlosser and Colby Copp in 23rd and 28th; and Lasting Impressions' Ronnie Orres in 37th.

・Rodbell qualified directly through the 250 heat race, finishing seventh, while Schlosser and Copp advanced to the evening program through the 250 LCQ, in which they finished second and fourth, respectively.

・The first 450SX heat race saw Lawrence get a third-place start and hound Quad Lock Honda's Christian Craig for several laps before finally making the pass and holding second through the final three laps. Craig went on to finish fifth, and his teammate Joey Savatgy finished an impressive second in the second heat race. Another Quad Lock Honda rider-Shane McElrath-won the LCQ.

・Lawrence participated in the Feld-organized podium-finisher media scrum following the 450SX main event.

・With Hunter Lawrence finishing second and Eli Tomac finishing outside the top 10, the Honda HRC Progressive rider is the new leader of the championship, five points ahead of Ken Roczen.

・Next up for Honda HRC Progressive is AMA Supercross round 6 this Saturday in Seattle.

 

Hunter Lawrence (96) at Glendale. Photo courtesy Honda HRC.

 

Hunter Lawrence: "Second again-we just focus on the positive. I just felt a little flat; usually, around the 10-minute mark, I feel like, 'Alright, we're on,' but I couldn't quite get into that tonight. I tried to make a push at the end with Kenny [Roczen] and closed a little bit on him, but a little too late. The first thing I focus on is the start, and I saw Eli [Tomac] down when I came back on the start straight; that was obviously in my favor, but I just focused ahead. Kenny had the sand line really good. The majority of the day, the outside was a better run into that double-triple; I hadn't gone inside yet in the race, and I didn't realize how good it actually was. Sure enough, after I got passed [by Roczen], I went inside for the rest of the race, so that's on me. Before the beginning of the season, I had supercross circled on my calendar for this year. I'm happy to have the red plate-it's cool in the 450 Supercross Championship. I want to keep it, but I just want the red plate at the last round, plain and simple. From 2020, the amount of work to be here, it's kind of tough to put into words how much goes into getting to this point, but it is pretty damn cool." 

 

Lars Lindstrom: "It's crazy to think that we're almost one-third of the way through the series already, and to be this far in and take the red plate with Hunter is a fantastic feeling-and I think the best is yet to come! I really like Hunter's mentality, and I think we share it on the team as far as not getting too caught up and worrying about when we will win a race, and also to just focus on doing the best possible result every Saturday night, rather than worry about protecting the red plate. As long as we all do our job, and Hunter can do his, we should be in good shape. We're definitely excited to get on the road, on to other tracks that Hunter enjoys."

 

 

 

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More from a press release issued by Yamaha:

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing's Cooper Webb makes championship gains with a third-place finish at Glendale Supercross, with Justin Cooper also taking a step forward in fourth.

Yes, the Monster Energy AMA Supercross 450SX Championship spans 17 rounds, but in a class stacked with championship-proven veterans and hungry young challengers, urgency sets in quickly when things aren't going to plan. Momentum matters. And for Cooper Webb, last weekend's win in Houston marked a major shift in the right direction. Now, with a third-place finish at Round 5 in Glendale, Arizona—a venue that has historically been a tough stop for the reigning champion—that momentum continues to build.

"Being on the podium here is a win for me," Webb said. "We'll start getting to these tracks that I really enjoy, so we're back in the swing of things, which is nice."

It wasn't just a good night for Webb. It was positive momentum for both riders on the team, with Justin Cooper continuing to make improvements—earning both his best heat race and main event result thus far this season.

 

Justin Cooper (32) at Glendale. Photo courtesy Yamaha.

 

"It was a pretty good day overall," said Rich Simmons, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing's 450 Team Manager. "We made a few adjustments, mainly with Justin throughout the day. The main goal was improving in the whoops and the starts, and I felt like he improved with both. He skimmed the whoops all night, got himself a good start, and rode really well in the main event. For Webb, it was another solid night here. It's been a tough place for him to come to and get a good result over the years, and now he has two podiums, two years in a row, which is pretty good."

From the start of the day at State Farm Stadium, both Webb and Cooper showed speed, posting solid qualifying times and getting good starts. It was also a good battle between the two in that first 450SX Heat Race of the evening, with Cooper making a pass on Webb around the halfway point and finishing third.

Then, in the main event, it was another good start with Webb making moves early to third. He tried to close the gap to the front, but ultimately was happy to score valuable points with the final podium spot. The result moved him up to fourth in the standings, now just 15 points from the leader.

 

Cooper Webb (1) at Glendale. Photo courtesy Yamaha.

 

"Glendale Supercross was a good night for me, overall," Webb reflected. "Qualifying was good, and I felt good all day. I was able to get a good start in the main event, get into third, and kind of rode there all night. I was there with Hunter (Lawrence) for a little bit, and then, the boys just kind of got me. But, overall, I'm happy with the night. For me, this is a place that isn't my favorite, so it's good to get a podium here. We'll keep the ball rolling."

For Cooper, Glendale marked a noticeable step forward. After passing Webb in the heat race, the New Yorker rode away to a secure third, earning a strong gate pick for the main event. He backed it up with another good start, slotting in behind his teammate before moving into fourth on Lap 2, maintaining the position to the finish.

 

Justin Cooper (32) and Jorge Prado (26) at Glendale. Photo courtesy Yamaha.

 

"I got decent starts in the heat and the main," Cooper said. "I felt like I had a good pace going at the front. I made a few mistakes in the middle, just trying to push. This track is a little bit hard to push on, so you almost have to relax a bit to find a better flow to move forward, and that's kind of what I started to find towards the end."

Like Webb, Cooper left Arizona encouraged by the progress, and excited for when the series heads east.

"It was a big improvement from last weekend," Cooper said. "Fourth place on a track and dirt that I usually struggle on a lot was really good. I was close to the podium, but we'll take it as a win, and we'll move on to next weekend in Seattle. Then we go east. I'm excited for the rounds coming up and dirt that suits me a little bit more."

 

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing's Haiden Deegan continues to raise the bar in the 250SX West Championship, further strengthening his title defense.

It's been full steam ahead for Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing's Haiden Deegan since San Diego Supercross. The 20-year-old has been unstoppable, and at Round 5 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross 250SX West Championship, he delivered another masterclass performance at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

The reigning champ continued to add to his list of accomplishments in what is his final title campaign aboard the YZ250F. Thus far in 2026, Deegan has notched four consecutive wins - including a Triple Crown sweep in Houston - four heat race wins, and four straight fastest qualifier honors. He added to the momentum in Glendale with a pair of holeshots, one in the heat race and one in the main event, allowing him to lead from start to finish on the technical track.

 

Haiden Deegan (1) at Glendale. Photo courtesy Yamaha.

 

"Four in a row, and it was another perfect day, so yeah, it's amazing," Deegan said about the day. "The track was pretty technical in the main event, pretty slick, but we were able to make it happen. I finally pulled a holeshot in the main event, so that was very nice. That's a wrap on Glendale. Now we're on to Seattle."

Deegan now holds a commanding 27-point lead at the halfway mark of the 250SX West Championship. With one round remaining before the series break, he's focused on keeping the momentum rolling while also looking ahead to what's next.

"I'm so excited to get on a 450 and start getting ready for outdoors," Deegan said. "These races have been solid. It's been lots of hard work with the family and the team, and my bike has been amazing. Man, this feels good. The hard work that I put in during the preseason, it paid off, and it shows you who works and who doesn't."

 

Haiden Deegan (1) at Glendale. Photo courtesy Yamaha.

 

After a tough outing in Houston, Michael Mosiman rebounded with a strong performance in Glendale. The Californian got a solid start in his heat race, running third before making the pass for second on Lap 3 and riding a smart race to the finish. In the main event, Mosiman once again got a strong start and slotted into second behind Deegan, holding the position for much of the race. Late pressure saw him lose spots to Levi Kitchen and Cameron McAdoo in the closing laps, ultimately finishing fourth. The result, however, moved him back into second in the championship standings.

"Glendale delivered a solid points night," Mosiman said. "Qualifying wasn't where I wanted it to be, but I had confidence in my riding and my abilities going into the main event. My starts were strong, which was a big focus for me after last weekend, so that was a positive takeaway. Losing the podium in the final laps was frustrating, and that's on me. I know exactly where I need to improve, and I'm confident I can make those adjustments to finish races stronger. I've worked hard to get back to a place where I'm consistently fighting for podiums, and the same determination and resilience that got me here will keep driving me forward. A big thank you to the team for their effort and support."

 

Michael Mosiman (23) at Glendale. Photo courtesy Yamaha.

 

Max Anstie's night proved challenging. He got a flying start to the first heat race of the evening, but unfortunately went wide and off track, rejoining towards the back of the field. The British rider put his head down, making an impressive charge through to fifth, but then a bad start in the main event made for an uphill battle. In 16th after the opening lap, he charged his way through to eighth by the halfway mark, where he would ultimately finish.

"It was not a good day today," said Anstie. "I got a bad start in the main and only made it back to eighth. I did all that I could, but it wasn't good enough tonight."

 

Max Anstie (61) at Glendale. Photo courtesy Yamaha.

 

"It was definitely nice for Haiden to leave here with another pretty perfect night," said Wil Hahn, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing's 250 Team General Manager. "Mosi (Michael Mosiman) was riding well and unfortunately lost the podium at the end of the race, but he's second in the championship. Max just had an off night. We need a nice reset and will come back next weekend."

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing will be looking to finish on a high note before the Western Divisional 250 class goes on break. They head to Seattle, Washington, next weekend for Round 6 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and the Monster Energy SMX World Championship series at Lumen Field on February 14.

 

 

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More from a press release issued by Red Bull KTM Factory Racing:

Jorge Prado continues 450SX progression with Glendale Top-Five. 

A top-five result for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing's Jorge Prado marked another impressive performance at Glendale's fifth round of the 2026 AMA Supercross Championship, with the Spaniard topping the 450SX qualifying timesheets, claiming a convincing Heat Race victory, and finishing fifth in Saturday night's premier class Main Event.

The four-time world champion continued his progression in the 2026 SMX World Championship season inside State Farm Stadium, posting the fastest qualifying time in the afternoon with a 56.451s lap on the high-speed, technical Arizona layout.

The 25-year-old followed that by controlling 450SX Heat 2 from start to finish onboard his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, before a top-10 start translated into a composed fifth-place result in the Main Event to conclude round five of the series. With his Glendale finish, Prado advances to seventh position in the championship standings.

 

Jorge Prado (26) at Glendale. Photo courtesy Red Bull KTM.

Jorge Prado: "My start was actually very good, it was just that I didn't have much space entering the first corner. But still, I managed to get around the turn decently, and then I was battling back and forth with Justin [Cooper], which made me get a little bit tight. I ended up bringing it home in P5, which I would say is a solid night. We're getting better and better with P1 in qualifying and the Heat Race, and then fifth in the Main Event is a good progression. I am happy with my riding and effort, so thanks to the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team - they're doing a great job, we have a great bike, and hopefully I can put it on the box again soon."

Entering the Glendale round as the 450SX red plate-holder, Eli Tomac arrived READY TO RACE on his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION and charged to the second-fastest time during the qualifying sessions, only marginally behind teammate Prado.

A strong start in 450SX Heat 1 saw the two-time Supercross champion take the holeshot, going on to control the race from the front as he recorded a decisive 5.987s victory and secured a strong gate selection for the Main Event.

The Colorado native endured a challenging start to the 450SX race, however, after being caught up in a multi-rider, first turn incident, before remounting to make a determined climb from the rear of the field to finish 12th, salvaging valuable championship points in the process. Tomac is now positioned third in the series, eight points outside of the lead.

 

Eli Tomac (3) at Glendale. Photo courtesy Red Bull KTM.

Eli Tomac: "I put myself in a position where bad things can happen. I got a little pinched at the start and then got taken out - so I don't know what happened before that, all I know is, I was done. It took me a little while to get warmed up again, kind of got my body loosened up and going, and that's what I had to get back to 12th. The good thing is, we're not too far down - we're fine - so we'll just have to do some digging now."

Also equipped with the KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, Aaron Plessinger qualified a promising ninth overall during the afternoon sessions, later claiming a direct transfer to the 450SX Main Event courtesy of a sixth-place finish in his Heat Race.

'The Cowboy' then battled inside the top-10 throughout the Main Event in Arizona and ultimately claimed eighth position when the checkered flag flew, providing a solid platform to build upon entering the middle stages of the Supercross season.

 

Aaron Plessinger (7) at Glendale. Photo courtesy Red Bull KTM.

Aaron Plessinger: "Glendale was a step in the right direction. The result may not show it, but the last few weeks have been really tough, so this week was a lot better as a stepping stone and I think we are on the way to turning things around. I felt better on the bike - that was my first 20-minute moto since San Diego - and it is safe to say that things have been up and down. But, either way, we are moving forward, and that's a positive for us. We'll go back, do some more homework this week, and show up for Seattle! I'm ready to go."

Next Race: February 14 - Seattle, Washington

 

 

---

More from a press release issued by Monster Energy Kawasaki:

Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki Riders claim back-to-back podiums.

 

Monster Energy® Pro Circuit Kawasaki riders Levi Kitchen and Cameron McAdoo powered to another double podium finish at the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship in Glendale, Arizona. Kitchen earned a hard-fought second-place finish, while McAdoo rode a consistent race to cross the line just behind his teammate in third. Monster Energy Kawasaki rider Chase Sexton battled through a challenging race to secure seventh place, while Garrett Marchbanks continued his steady progression with a solid performance, finishing with his best result of the season in 13th place.

 

Cameron McAdoo (142) and Levi Kitchen (47) at Glendale. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.

 

In 250SX Qualifying, Kitchen laid down consistently fast laps, briefly topping the board during the second session before ending second overall. McAdoo delivered two solid sessions as well, showing strong speed in the second session to take third overall, behind his teammate.

In Heat 1, Kitchen pulled a strong start, swapping positions with the riders around him through the opening lap. The No. 47 Kawasaki quickly charged forward, joining a tight three-rider battle at the front. Kitchen then pushed past two riders to take second in the heat race, while also recording the fastest lap of the race and half of the fastest sector times. In Heat 2, McAdoo launched out of the gate and rounded the first turn in second. Caught up in rider traffic, he was shuffled back a few positions before finding open track and charging back to third in the closing laps.

 

Cameron McAdoo (142) and Levi Kitchen (47) at Glendale. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.

 

In the 250 Main Event, McAdoo rocketed out of the gate aboard his KX250, rounding the first turn in third before battling with other riders on the opening lap. Kitchen, meanwhile, had a less-than-ideal start and would come out of the opening lap towards the back of the pack. Undeterred, Kitchen made strategic passes on his charge to the front of the field. McAdoo made a bold pass to move back into third, while Kitchen continued his charge forward, breaking the Top 5 by the midway point. Focused on the front, Kitchen reached his teammate and made an assertive pass to take over a podium position before advancing into second place before the checkered flag waved. In his rally to the finish, the No. 47 passed an impressive 17 riders and posted the fastest time in three sectors. After being pushed back to fourth, McAdoo kept his sights firmly on the podium and, with two laps remaining, made the move for third to secure another finish on the box. Overall, the night ended with both 250 Class riders moving up one position in the championship standings, with McAdoo now fifth and Kitchen sixth overall.

 

Levi Kitchen: "It was a pretty good night. There were a lot of positives, but my Achilles heel this season has been my starts, and that's something I plan to work on all week in practice. I'm happy with my riding, so I don't feel like I need to make any adjustments in that area. Overall, I'm satisfied with my result tonight, but I know I can do better. I would've liked to catch up to the front more, but with how spread out the field was, you can't expect to make up that much time. This week, I'm going to stay in California with the team and head into Seattle looking for better results. I've just got to keep working and keep pushing."

 

Cameron McAdoo: I had to fight for that one tonight, but I felt the best I've felt throughout a main event in a while. I got passed back to fourth on the first lap due to a line choice. I focused on where I was going and picked apart the different lines and where I could make passes. I knew where I could be better once I focused on my race, and I passed Ryder [DiFrancesco] back. I made a mistake later on with around three laps to go, and my teammate, Levi [Kitchen], passed me. I looked up, and I saw Michael Mosiman in front of me, and I knew I could make up another position since he was close. I wasn't done; I knew I was going to get a podium tonight.Having my sister here meant a lot, and that gave me some extra motivation. I can't thank my team enough for sticking with me through the early rounds. This one was special, and it felt great to put two Pro Circuit bikes on the podium again."

 

Garrett Marchbanks (36) and Chase Sexton (4) at Glendale. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.

 

In 450SX Qualifying, Sexton used the first session to learn the track while still posting strong laps to clock the fastest time in sectors four and six. After making adjustments to the bike, the No. 4 Kawasaki felt stronger in the second session, able to push to fifth overall. Marchbanks felt comfortable on the track as well, turning in his best qualifying result of the season with 12th overall.

In Heat 1, Marchbanks pulled a strong start and positioned himself just outside the Top 5. The No. 36 Kawasaki rode consistent laps as he held his ground to finish sixth and transfer directly into the main event. In Heat 2, Sexton had a less-than-ideal start, slipping to mid-pack down the start straight. Sexton powered through the field to finish fifth while setting the fastest lap time of the race.

 

Chase Sexton (4) at Glendale. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.

 

In the 450 Main Event, Sexton found himself off balance out of the gate while Marchbanks skillfully avoided a multi-rider crash down the start straight. Sexton emerged in 13th, with Marchbanks close behind in 16th. Both riders put their heads down and charged forward through the field. Sexton never stopped pushing, clocking fast laps and the fastest time in three sectors, but he ultimately settled for seventh on the night. Marchbanks worked his way up to 11th but started to tighten up in the closing minutes and slipped to 13th. A solid effort from the No. 36 as he captured his best result thus far this season and continues to progress in the class.

 

Garrett Marchbanks (36) at Glendale. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.

 

Chase Sexton: "Not the results I was looking for today. We had some positive moments to take away from the day and some adjustments we made to the bike that are going in the right direction. I felt like I had the speed all day to run up front, but my starts were holding me back today from being up there. In the main event, I really had to work to get up to where I did. Seventh was unfortunately all I had in me today, and I'm not satisfied with it. We'll continue to test and build this week and look towards Seattle."

 

Garrett Marchbanks: "We made really good progress during the week leading into Glendale. We put in a lot of time on Tuesday and Wednesday to get the bike dialed in. We put in about 100-120 laps altogether in just those two days of riding. We made a lot of changes to the bike to help me feel more comfortable. I wanted to make adjustments that would make me feel more at home when we go racing, and I felt like we made the right decisions during this week to lead to that this weekend. In qualifying, I felt really good in both sessions and qualified my best in the second session. In the main event, I didn't get the best start and had some riders flinch on the gate near me that didn't help. There was a big first turn crash that I was able to avoid, and I made some good passes midway through the race. I got up to 11th and started to lose my flow in the last five minutes. I'm working on getting up to race pace shape with the longer format in the premier class, but I'm happy with 13th, my best result of the season so far. We'll keep moving forward and look to next weekend."

 

 

---

More from a press release issued by Rockstar Energy Husqvarna:

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna's Ryder DiFrancesco races to P5 in 250SX at Glendale.

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing's Ryder DiFrancesco delivered a measured ride to claim fifth position in 250SX West at Round 5 of the 2026 AMA Supercross Championship in Glendale, Arizona, with the result elevating him to P3 in the standings as the Western Division reaches halfway.  

DiFrancesco displayed exceptional pace from the outset on the sprawling State Farm Stadium layout, qualifying fifth on combined times aboard his Husqvarna FC 250 Factory Edition ahead of the night program.

The 20-year-old was up-front early in 250SX Heat 2 before a fall in the challenging sand section dropped him toward the rear of the field. However, the Californian would mount an impressive recovery ride, climbing through the pack to secure a hard-fought eighth-place finish and a direct transfer to the Main Event.

    Ryder DiFrancesco (34) at Glendale. Photo courtesy Husqvarna Team

A solid start and Main Event performance saw DiFrancesco run inside the top-three throughout the opening stages, before ultimately earning a consistent fifth-place result, taking valuable championship points and climbing to third in the championship entering Seattle next weekend.

   

"Glendale was good," recalled DiFrancesco. "I started off the day really fast in qualifying and then ended up going down in the Heat Race, but managed to fight my way back to eighth. That gave me a bad gate pick, but I positioned myself really well, actually, to start the Main Event. I ran third for a while, and lost a couple of places from there, so we have some work that needs doing between now and the next one, but I like the ruts and I like Seattle. We'll make some tweaks and come out swinging next weekend!"

  Malcolm Stewart (27) at Glendale. Photo courtesy Husqvarna Team

 

For 450SX contender Malcolm Stewart, the Floridian endured a difficult outing at the fifth round of the 2026 SMX World Championship, finishing seventh in Heat 2 onboard his Husqvarna FC 450 Factory Edition. A pair of untimely crashes during the Main Event ultimately forced the 33-year-old to retire in the latter stages of the race, bringing an early end to his night inside State Farm Stadium. Premier class teammate RJ Hampshire did not line up for the night program at the fifth round after coming down with illness in the days leading up to the race weekend. The 30-year-old briefly took to the track during qualifying, however, the decision was collectively made to withdraw from the remainder of Glendale and focus on a full recovery ahead of Seattle.  

 

 

---

More from a press release issued by Red Bull Ducati Factory:

Troy Lee Designs Red Bull Ducati Factory Racing's Dylan Ferrandis Stays Steady Under Pressure.

Sunnyvale, CA, February 8, 2026 — The Troy Lee Designs Red Bull Ducati Team delivered a substantial performance in sunny, hot conditions at the Glendale Supercross, a race defined by the longest start straight of the season and by full-throttle intensity throughout the night.

The Glendale track was built to emphasize power and starts, and the Ducati Desmo450 MX rose to the challenge. Improved launches off the start throughout the day highlighted the bike's horsepower and marked a clear step forward for the team. Although the morning began with setup challenges, the crew worked through the issues, ultimately identifying and correcting, turning the day into a positive step in overall development.

Dylan Ferrandis entered the weekend under the weather but ready to push forward. The day took an early hurdle during Qualifying 1 when Ferrandis was struck by a rock from another rider, resulting in a laceration to his eyebrow that required stitches and forced him to retire early from the session.

With limited track time compared to the rest of the field, Ferrandis returned for Qualifying 2, finishing 15th overall and lining up for Heat Race 2.

In the heat race, Ferrandis delivered one of the highlights of the night with a strong start, a major positive for the team after prioritizing starts and starting positions. Running fourth off the gate in a stacked heat, he ultimately finished 8th.

 

Dylan Ferrandis (14) at Glendale. Photo courtesy Ducati Factory

 

Ferrandis carried momentum into the Main Event with another excellent start, crossing the line around fourth place on the opening lap. After being shuffled just outside the top five early, he battled in the 7th-8th range before settling into 9th by lap nine, where he would finish. The result marked his fourth top-ten finish of the season and his third ninth-place result.

"It was overall a very difficult day for me," said Dylan Ferrandis. "I came to this race a little sick. Then 1st practice, I was hit by a rock… and I cut my eyebrow and I had to pull out from the practice to go stitches. So we lost one full practice and track time and was struggling a lot with a good feeling on the track. I had great starts every time we were on track, so that was very, very positive for today. I struggled a bit with the bike set up, and I made some change for main event and It was better. It was a bad beginning of the day but We salvaged to make at least the same result as my best result so far."

Despite the adversity, Glendale proved to be a valuable round for the Troy Lee Designs Red Bull Ducati Team, showcasing improved starts, continued progress with the Desmo450 MX, and the resilience to turn a difficult beginning into another solid top-ten finish.

The post Supercross: More From Teams at Glendale appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.

Someday

Microsoft wants you to know that it has found a new way of saving power at its datacenters using high-temperature superconducting (HTS) power delivery systems. And good news: it'll be possible ... someday.…

Academics look at problematic algorithm to inform regulatory discussion

A picture is worth a thousand words or, perhaps, a hundred thousand dollars in extra salary. Academics claim that personality traits inferred using AI photo analysis can predict how depicted individuals will fare in the labor market.…

In 2007, Americans bought 103 million mass market paperbacks — the pocket-sized books crammed into spinner racks at airports, drugstores, and grocery checkouts. Last year the total was 18 million. Now ReaderLink, the largest distributor supplying books to non-bookstore retailers, has told publishers it's dropping the format, Elizabeth A. — Read the rest

The post The mass market paperback is vanishing appeared first on Boing Boing.

The search giant announced new tools aimed at giving people more control over how their information appears online.

Robert Playter announcd he is leaving Boston Dynamics after 30 years at the company in various roles, including six years as CEO.

Custom motorcycle builders often get requests for machines that either replicate or, at the very least, draw inspiration from ones that they've built before. But what happens when a customer likes one of your previous projects, and then deviates from the source material with a totally different dono...

The first real glimpse of the Trump phone confirms what we already suspected.

After numerous news reports documented Masha Bucher's close business and personal relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, Bucher took to X to explain.

Mark Z Jacobson on Facebook: SuperBowlLX was the first Super Bowl with the stadium powered by 100% solar alone for the pre-game show (from 10 AM-3 PM PT), since the California ISO grid was powered by 100% solar during that time. Sunday, February 8 was also the 22nd day of 2026 with 100% Wind-Water-Solar powering … Continue reading "Solar Powered Super Bowl a First"

Pete Ohs' film follows Charli XCX's Bethany around Warsaw as she waits out the aftermath of a volcanic eruption

Nvidia, Qualcomm, and Altera among the first to trial EDA giant's AI chip design agent

The idea of machines that can build even better machines sounds like sci-fi, but the concept is becoming a reality as companies like Cadence tap into generative AI to design and validate next-gen processors that also use AI.…

In October, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick recounted visiting his neighbor Jeffrey Epstein's Manhattan townhouse around 2005. Behind double doors: a massage table, candles. Lutnick told the host of the Podforce One Podcast that he asked Epstein if he frequently received massages. — Read the rest

The post Commerce secretary admitted to lying about Epstein island visit appeared first on Boing Boing.

"So you want the world to respect your art but don't give a shit about the art of music that helps you do it?"

The director of 'Prey' and 'Predator: Badlands' spoke to io9 about his filmmaking future.

It'd probably help the New York Times, too.

The tech giant handed over the personal information of a journalist and student who attended a pro-Palestinian protest in 2024. This is the latest example of ICE using its controversial subpoena powers to target people critical of the Trump administration.

Out of the twelve-person founding team, only seven are still at the company (counting Elon).

Meta has been going all in on AI, whether people want it or not, and now it's bringing more features in that vein to Facebook. The network's latest move is to let people use Meta AI to animate their profile photos. Because what better way to express your individuality than to use a pre-canned AI-generated animation on your own face?

Meta AI is also coming for your Facebook Stories and Memories. The network's Restyle lets you use gen-AI to change up the aesthetic of your posts. You can once again use pre-canned stylings or give the AI assistant your own prompt.

In the company's own words, the new tools that will create "share-worthy moments that spark meaningful interactions and conversations with friends." I guess meaning is in the eye of the beholder. If you're desperate to behold even more AI slop, Meta recently said its Vibes feed of exactly that content will be getting a standalone app.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/facebook-is-offering-meta-ai-powered-animations-for-profile-photos-201022506.html?src=rss

We live in a stupidly polarizing world where nuance is apparently not allowed. Everyone wants you to be for or against something—and nowhere is this more exhausting than with AI. There are those who insist that it's all bad and there is nothing of value in it. And there are those who think it's all powerful, the greatest thing ever, and will replace basically every job with AI bots who can work better and faster.

I think both are wrong, but it's important to understand why.

So let me lay out how I actually think about it. When it's used properly, as a tool to assist a human being in accomplishing a goal, it can be incredibly powerful and valuable. When it's used in a way where the human's input and thinking are replaced, it tends to do very badly.

And that difference matters.

I think back to a post from Cory Doctorow a couple months ago where he tried to make the same point using a different kind of analogy: centaurs and reverse-centaurs.

Start with what a reverse centaur is. In automation theory, a "centaur" is a person who is assisted by a machine. You're a human head being carried around on a tireless robot body. Driving a car makes you a centaur, and so does using autocomplete.

And obviously, a reverse centaur is a machine head on a human body, a person who is serving as a squishy meat appendage for an uncaring machine.

Like an Amazon delivery driver, who sits in a cabin surrounded by AI cameras, that monitor the driver's eyes and take points off if the driver looks in a proscribed direction, and monitors the driver's mouth because singing isn't allowed on the job, and rats the driver out to the boss if they don't make quota.

The driver is in that van because the van can't drive itself and can't get a parcel from the curb to your porch. The driver is a peripheral for a van, and the van drives the driver, at superhuman speed, demanding superhuman endurance. But the driver is human, so the van doesn't just use the driver. The van uses the driver up.

Obviously, it's nice to be a centaur, and it's horrible to be a reverse centaur.

As Doctorow notes in his piece, some of the companies embracing AI tech are doing so with the goal of building reverse-centaurs. Those are the ones that people are, quite understandably, uncomfortable with and should be mocked. But the reality is, also, it seems quite likely those efforts will fail.

And they'll fail not just because they're dehumanizing—though they are—but because the output is garbage. Hallucinations, slop, confidently wrong answers: that's what happens when nobody with actual knowledge is checking whether any of it makes sense. When AI works well, it's because a human is providing the knowledge and the creativity.

The reverse-centaur doesn't just burn out the human. It produces worse work, because it assumes that the AI can provide the knowledge or the creativity. It can't. That requires a human. The power of AI tools is in enabling a human to take their own knowledge, and their own creativity and enhance it, to do more with it, based on what the person actually wants.

To me it's a simple question of "what's the tool?" Is it the AI, used thoughtfully by a human to do more than they otherwise could have? If so, that's a good and potentially positive use of AI. It's the centaur in Doctorow's analogy.

Or is the human the tool? Is it a "reverse centaur"? I think nearly all of those are destined to fail.

This is why I tend not to get particularly worked up by those who claim that AI is going to destroy jobs and wipe out the workforce, who will be replaced by bots. It just… doesn't work that way.

At the same time, I find it ridiculous to see people still claiming that the technology itself is no good and does nothing of value. That's just empirically false. Plenty of people—including myself—get tremendous use out of the technology. I am using it regularly in all different ways. It's been two years since I wrote about how I used it to help as a first pass editor.

The tech has gotten dramatically better since then, but the key insight to me is what it takes to make it useful: context is everything. My AI editor doesn't just get my draft writeup and give me advice based on that and its training—it also has a sampling of the best Techdirt articles, a custom style guide with details about how I write, a deeply customized system prompt (the part of AI tools that are often hidden from public view) and a deeply customized starting prompt. It also often includes the source articles I'm writing about. With all that context, it's an astoundingly good editor. Sometimes it points out weak arguments I missed entirely. Sometimes it has nothing to say.

(As an aside, in this article, it suggested I went on way too long explaining all the context I give it to give me better suggestions, and thus I shortened it to just the paragraph above this one).

It's not always right. Its suggestions are not always good. But that's okay, because I'm not outsourcing my brain to it. It's a tool. And way more often than not, it pushes me to be a better writer.

This is why I get frustrated every time people point out a single AI fail or hallucination without context.

The problem only comes in when people outsource their brains. When they become reverse centaurs. When they are the tool instead of using AI as the tool. That's when hallucinations or bad info matter.

But if the human is in control, if they're using their own brain, if they're evaluating what the tool is suggesting or recommending and making the final decision, then it can be used wisely and can be incredibly helpful.

And this gets at something most people miss entirely: when they think about AI, they're still imagining a chatbot. They think every AI tool is ChatGPT. A thing you talk to. A thing that generates text or images for you to copy-paste somewhere else.

That's increasingly not where the action is. The more powerful shift is toward agentic AI—tools that don't just generate content, but actually do things. They write code and run it. They browse the web and synthesize what they find. They execute multi-step tasks with minimal hand-holding. This is a fundamentally different model than "ask a chatbot a question and get an answer."

I've been using Claude Code recently, and this distinction matters. It's an agent that can plan, execute, and iterate on actual software projects, rather than just a tool talking to me about what to do. But, again, that doesn't mean I just outsource my brain to it.

I often put Claude Code into plan mode, where it tries to work out a plan, but then I spend quite a lot of time exploring why it was making certain decisions, and asking it to explore the pros and cons of those decisions, and even to provide me with alternative sources to understand the trade-offs of some of the decisions it is recommending. That back and forth has been both educational for me, but also makes me have a better understanding and be comfortable with the eventual projects I use Claude Code to build.

I am using it as a tool, and part of that is making sure I understand what it's doing. I am not outsourcing my brain to it. I am using it, carefully, to do things that I simply could not have done before.

And that's powerful and valuable.

Yes, there are so many bad uses of AI tools. And yes, there is a concerted, industrial-scale effort, to convince the public they need to use AI in ways that they probably shouldn't, or in ways that is actively harmful. And yes, there are real questions about what it costs to train and run the foundation models. And we should discuss those and call those out for what they are.

But the people who insist the tools are useless and provide nothing of value, that's just wrong. Similarly, anyone who thinks the tech is going to go away are entirely wrong. There likely is a funding bubble. And some companies will absolutely suffer as it deflates. But it won't make the tech go away.

When used properly, it's just too useful.

As Cory notes in his centaur piece, AI can absolutely help you do your job, but the industry's entire focus is on convincing people it can replace your job. That's the con. The tech doesn't replace people. But it can make them dramatically more capable—if they stay in the driver's seat.

The key to understanding the good and the bad of the AI hype is understanding that distinction. Cory explains this in reference to AI coding:

Think of AI software generation: there are plenty of coders who love using AI, and almost without exception, they are senior, experienced coders, who get to decide how they will use these tools. For example, you might ask the AI to generate a set of CSS files to faithfully render a web-page across multiple versions of multiple browsers. This is a notoriously fiddly thing to do, and it's pretty easy to verify if the code works - just eyeball it in a bunch of browsers. Or maybe the coder has a single data file they need to import and they don't want to write a whole utility to convert it.

Tasks like these can genuinely make coders more efficient and give them more time to do the fun part of coding, namely, solving really gnarly, abstract puzzles. But when you listen to business leaders talk about their AI plans for coders, it's clear they're not looking to make some centaurs.

They want to fire a lot of tech workers - they've fired 500,000 over the past three years - and make the rest pick up their work with coding, which is only possible if you let the AI do all the gnarly, creative problem solving, and then you do the most boring, soul-crushing part of the job: reviewing the AIs' code.

Criticize the hype. Mock the replace-your-workforce promises. Call out the slop factories and the gray goo doomsaying. But don't mistake the bad uses for the technology itself. When a human stays in control—thinking, evaluating, deciding—it's a genuinely powerful tool. The important question is just whether you're using it, or it's using you.

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Paris-headquartered Naboo has raised a $70m in Series B as it accelerates its ambition to become the operating layer for how large companies plan, book, and control corporate events. The round is led by Lightspeed Venture Partners, the same investor that backed Mistral AI in 2023, and lands just a year after Naboo closed a €20m Series A. Naboo positions itself as an AI-powered procurement platform for corporate events, covering everything from venue booking and travel to supplier coordination and budget control. Founded in 2022, Naboo built its name on simplifying how companies organise and run corporate events,  from booking…

This story continues at The Next Web

Databricks is having one of those years that most enterprise software companies would quietly envy. The data and AI platform says it has reached a $5.4bn annual revenue run rate, growing 65% year over year, at a time when growth across the sector has cooled noticeably. For a private company, that pace is rare. And it helps explain why investors have continued to pour money into Databricks, even as funding has become more selective. The company says it has now raised more than $7bn in total capital, including recent equity funding that values the business at $134bn, alongside a large…

This story continues at The Next Web

I lost the spreadsheet.

Have you ever totaled up the costs of all the things you subscribe to?

More in the general than the specific senses.

This post from 2009 turned out to be prophetic.

About what's on.

NiemanLab says public radio is playing an important role in covering shit that's going down.  Note: public radio in the Minneapolis-St. Paul Market has a 15.5 share. That's very good. 

Here's what I wrote about public radio numbers in 2019. Back then, Santa Barbara kicked ass with a 23.4 overall share. It still does, with a 24.8 share. (Shares are percentages of total listening.)

The much-anticipated fourth 'Mummy' film will be directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett and now has a release date to look forward to.

There has been a lot of bellyaching among right wing extremists about the NFL's decision to make Puerto Rican musician Bad Bunny the headline attraction of this year's Super Bowl halftime show, claiming he was "not an American artist." That dismissive attitude offers insight into the fraught relationship between the ... [continued]

The post Bad Bunny Put A Spotlight On The Special Relationship Between The US & Puerto Rico appeared first on CleanTechnica.

Long live Google. Your pension might depend on it.

Rivian, along with other automakers, has been under pressure to make the manual door releases easier to access. The new R2 SUV does that — here's how.

Facebook's new AI features let users animate their profile pics, restyle their Stories and Memories, and add backgrounds to text posts.

He also shared an album trailer, which features a cameo from Kendrick Lamar

Richard M Lee/Shutterstock

Supermarket shelves can look full despite the food systems underneath them being under strain. Fruit may be stacked neatly, chilled meat may be in place. It appears that supply chains are functioning well. But appearances can be deceiving.

Today, food moves through supply chains because it is recognised by databases, platforms and automated approval systems. If a digital system cannot confirm a shipment, the food cannot be released, insured, sold, or legally distributed. In practical terms, food that cannot be "seen" digitally becomes unusable.

This affects the resilience of the UK food system , and is increasingly identified as a critical vulnerability.

Look at the consequences, for example, when recent cyberattacks on grocery and food distribution networks disrupted operations at multiple major US grocery chains. This took online ordering and other digital systems down and delayed deliveries even though physical stocks were available.

Part of the problem here is that key decisions are made by automated or opaque systems that cannot be easily explained or challenged. Manual backups are also being removed in the name of efficiency.

---

Read more: The UK's food supply is more fragile than you might think - here's why it should be a national priority

---

This digital shift is happening around the world, in supermarkets and in farming, and has delivered efficiency gains, but it has also intensified structural pressures across logistics and transport, particularly in supply chains which are set up to deliver at the last minute.

Using AI

AI and data-driven systems now shape decisions across agriculture and food delivery. They are used to forecast demand, optimise planting, prioritise shipments, and manage inventories. Official reviews of the use of AI across production, processing, and distribution show that these tools are now embedded across most stages of the UK food system. But there are risks.

When decisions about food allocation cannot be explained or reviewed, authority shifts away from human judgment and into software rules. Put simply, businesses are choosing automation over humans to save time and cut costs. As a result, decisions about food movement and access are increasingly made by systems that people cannot easily question or override.

Extreme weather such as Storm Chandra can cause food shortages, but there are other factors as well.

This has already started to happen. During the 2021 ransomware attack on JBS Foods, meat processing facilities halted operations despite animals, staff, and infrastructure being present. Although some Australian farmers were able to override the systems, there were widespread problems. More recently, disruptions affecting large distributors have shown how system failures can interrupt deliveries to shops even if goods are available.

Getting rid of humans

A significant issue is fewer people managing these issues, and staff training. Manual procedures are classified as costly and gradually abandoned. Staff are no longer trained for overrides they are never expected to perform. When failure occurs, the skills required to intervene may no longer exist.

This vulnerability is compounded by persistent workforce and skills shortages, which affect transport, warehousing and public health inspection. Even when digital systems recover, the human ability to restart flows may be limited.

The risk is not only that systems fail, but that when they do, disruption spreads quickly. This can be understood as a stress test rather than a prediction. Authorisation systems may freeze. Trucks are loaded, but release codes fail. Drivers wait. Food is present, but movement is not approved.

Based on previous incidents within days digital records and physical reality can begin to diverge. Inventory systems no longer match what is on shelves. After about 72 hours, manual intervention is required. Yet paper procedures have often been removed, and staff are not trained to use them.

These patterns are consistent with evidence from UK food system vulnerability analyses, which emphasise that resilience failures are often organisational rather than agricultural.

Food security is often framed as a question of supply. But there is also a question of authorisation. If a digital manifest is corrupted, shipments may not be released.

This matters in a country like the UK that relies heavily on imports and complex logistics. Resilience depends not only on trade flows, but on the governance of data and decision-making in food systems, research on food security suggests.

Who is in control?

AI can strengthen food security. Precision agriculture (using data to make decisions about when to plant or water, for instance) and early-warning systems have helped reduce losses and improve yields. The issue is not whether AI is used, but who is watching it, and who manages it.

Food systems need humans to be in the loop, with trained staff and regular drills on how to override systems if they go wrong. Algorithms used in food allocation and logistics must be transparent enough to be audited. Commercial secrecy cannot outweigh public safety. Communities and farmers must retain control over their data and knowledge.

This is not a risk for the future. It already explains why warehouses full of food can become inaccessible or ignored.

The question is not whether digital systems will fail, but whether we will build a system that can survive its failure.

Mohammed F. Alzuhair does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

You have likely heard about the masked agents of ICE mucking around in Minnesota for the past few months, resulting in numerous violent incidents and deaths. Itch.io is hosting a bundle to help raise money for the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota, which was organized by charity creator Jes Wade.

The No ICE in Minnesota bundle includes nearly 1,300 video games and tabletop games and costs just $10, though those with deep pockets can certainly donate more than that. It has a goal of $100,000, which it certainly is on pace to meet.

There are some nifty titles here, particularly for those interested in indie puzzle games and life sims. The standout is likely the stellar puzzler Baba Is You, which won the Game Designers Award at the Tokyo Games Show in 2020. This is a game that has to be played to be understood, as players are given the opportunity to change the rules to find novel solutions to complex puzzles. It's very good.

The bundle includes the life simulation game Calico, which involves players running a cat cafe on a magical island. The art style is gorgeous and the gameplay is relaxing. Also, calico cats are awesome.

Other titles include the bee-collecting sim Apico, the musical sci-fi adventure Periphery Synthetic and the space-based roguelike Hyperspace Dogfights. Scroll through the list to see if anything else strikes your interest, but mark out some time on the calendar first. Scrolling through nearly 1,300 games can take a while.

The Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota is a nonprofit that provides free representation to low-income immigrants and refugees. The organization also provides support for those who have witnessed violent attacks and advocates for public policies which "respect the universal human rights of immigrants."

I live in Minneapolis. ICE is still here in full force, despite the media moving on to shinier objects. We really do need all the help we can get. The long-term presence of these masked, armed agents is really starting to destroy the local economy and many people are quite literally trapped indoors. To say morale is low would be an understatement. Schools are still being raided and people are still being brutally beaten. American citizens are still being arrested for dubious reasons. This is all happening after the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.

That's why these fundraising bundles on Itch have become so important. They really do shine a light on important topics. This is organizer Jes Wade's second ICE-related bundle, with a former focusing on California relief efforts. There have also been bundles to help raise money for the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund and Community Bail Fund and to raise cash for charities working in Ukraine.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/this-itchio-bundle-to-help-minnesota-includes-over-1200-games-and-costs-just-10-190643987.html?src=rss

Former cryptocurrency poster boy Sam Bankman-Fried is trying to get another chance in court. He has filed a request that for a new trial on claims that new witness testimony could alter the case made against him by prosecutors, according to Bloomberg. His odds for getting the re-trial, where he'd be representing himself, seem pretty slim. This is a separate motion from a formal appeal of his previous conviction.

Bankman-Fried is one of many cryptocurrency leaders who have since been prosecuted for fraud. After being jailed for witness tampering, he was found guilty of seven charges of fraud and conspiracy in 2023. Bankman-Fried was sentenced to 25 years in prison for his actions as CEO and co-founder of crypto exchange FTX.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/sam-bankman-fried-wants-a-re-trial-for-fraud-charges-185910093.html?src=rss

I don't understand sycophancy. Never have. I don't know what it gets you in the long run other than a reputation for subservience. That's worth nearly nothing in the open market. The only people who will hire you are people most people would never want to work for.

And yet, that is pretty much the entirety of the GOP under Trump: a massive collection of doormats the current president won't even remember stepping on moments later. Sucking up to a goldfish brain like Trump makes you a fool, rather than the savvy pol you imagine yourself to be.

Welcome to the dom side of the sub/dom equation, Senator Marsha Blackburn. While she's most famous here for trying to turn the internet into whatever the current iteration of the GOP wishes it to be (at least here at Techdirt), she's stepped out of her comfort zone recently to publicly complain about a Supreme Court justice who attended an awards show where multiple people publicly criticized Trump's anti-migrant actions.

Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) called for an investigation Thursday into Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson for attending the Grammy Awards, where various artists criticized Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

[…]

"Americans deserve a Supreme Court that is impartial and above political influence," Blackburn wrote on social platform X. "When a Justice participates in such a highly politicized event, it raises ethical questions. We need an investigation into Justice Jackson's ability to remain impartial."

First things fucking last, Justice Jackson was not a presenter, nor was she a "participant" in any of the ICE criticism delivered by Grammy-nominated artists like Bad Bunny, Billie Eilish, and Justin Vernon. She was also not involved in any way with the production of the Grammy Awards ceremony, further removing her from anything that might be deemed "impartial."

But beyond any of that is the fact that Justice Jackson had a perfectly legitimate, non-political reason to be there:

Jackson was nominated in the Best Audio Book, Narration and Storytelling Recording category for her memoir "Lovely One." 

Jackson didn't win (she lost to the Dalai Lama which, if you're going to lose, is probably a loss you'll never complain about publicly) but she was nominated. That alone gave her a reason to be there. The anti-ICE content may have been personally enjoyable, but she wasn't there to soak up the stuff being said by others.

Not that it matters to the performative doormats currently employed as GOP politicians. Sen. Blackburn immediately started banging away on her keyboard and decided to take her disgruntled Grammy Awards forum comments to the next level by sending them off to Chief Justice John Roberts:

I write today regarding recent reporting about Associate Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson's attendance at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, on Sunday, February 1, and the ethical questions raised by her attendance at such a highly politicized event. For the following
reasons, I urge you to conduct a thorough investigation into Justice Jackson's attendance at this event and whether her presence at such an event complies with the obligation that a Supreme Court justice "act at all times in a manner that promotes public confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary."

While it is by no means unheard of or unusual for a Supreme Court justice to attend a public function, very rarely—if ever—have justices of our nation's highest Court been present at an event at which attendees have amplified such far-left rhetoric. Many of the attendees wore lapel pins that read "ICE OUT," an anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) adage. One Grammy winner that evening opened his acceptance speech by stating, "Before I say thanks to God, I'm going to say 'ICE out,'" which was received with thunderous applause by the crowd. Another award recipient that evening noted in her acceptance speech that "No one is illegal on stolen land," going on to say that "we need to keep fighting and speaking up and protesting . . . And f*** ICE, that's all I'm gonna say." These statements were just two of many polarized, highly charged anti-law enforcement sentiments from that evening. It is important to note that Justice Jackson was present in the audience throughout the event.

Wow. Harsh words from someone who couldn't be bothered to speak up while Justice Clarence Thomas received millions of dollars' worth of gifts from right-wing benefactors over the past two decades. She was oddly quiet when it was revealed Justice Thomas's wife was pushing election conspiracy theories. Truly an unexpected amount of yelling from someone who had nothing to say when Justice Alito's wife was flying pro-Trump flags at Alito's home.

Oh. Wait. Blackburn has something to say about both of those things in this letter to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court:

Unlike these meritless claims against Justice Alito and Justice Thomas, there are serious questions regarding Justice Jackson's participation in such a brazenly political, anti-law enforcement event and her ability to remain an impartial member of the Supreme Court.

It was a Grammy Awards ceremony, not an anti-ICE protest. That people had negative things to say about ICE is completely expected, given how many people are opposed to how this administration is handling immigration enforcement. Blackburn absolutely knows she's comparing apples to precision-machined aftermarket car parts. But like everyone else in this despicable political party, she doesn't care and she knows it's going to cause at least a small percentage of the converted to pretend to be offended on her behalf.

I assume John Roberts knows this as well. Let's hope he'll just roll his eyes and go back to binge-watching the kind of television I assume he enjoys: the no-one-asked-for-this 2023 reboot of Night Court.

Yes, there was already a movie and a show, but now we're getting a new take on the story.

Last year, a Fiat 500 driver deliberately plowed into Michael van Erp, sending his electric bike scattering across the road. What did he do for the rest of the day? "Went out and Gandalf'd a load more people."

Erp — known to London's motorists as Cycling Mikey — has reported over 2,400 drivers to the Metropolitan Police since 2019 for using their phones at the wheel. — Read the rest

The post This cyclist has gotten 36 London drivers banned appeared first on Boing Boing.

About 8,000 years ago, Mount Mazama dramatically erupted and collapsed, creating Oregon's beautiful Crater Lake. Currently, an axial volcano about 400 miles off the Oregon Coast and due east of Mazama is getting ready to blow.

While not as globally disruptive as an eruption like Yellowstone, Mount Mazama was a doozy. — Read the rest

The post Crater Lake only looks serene because it's had 7,700 years to calm down appeared first on Boing Boing.

The day after the SEC accused him of running a Ponzi scheme, Tai Lopez posted on X: "Never doom. No matter how horrible the situation, don't ever think you're doomed. Unless you are dead, all defeat is psychological."

Lopez — the social media guru famous for his 2015 "Here in My Garage" Lamborghini video — co-founded Retail Ecommerce Ventures in 2019 to acquire bankrupt brands like RadioShack, Pier 1, Dressbarn, and Modell's. — Read the rest

The post Influencer who bought RadioShack accused of running $230 million Ponzi scheme appeared first on Boing Boing.

"Your littlest girl was a little naughty." "Can we talk about treasure hunt for girls on the island." "I found at least 3 very good young poor."

These are emails to and from Jeffrey Epstein, released by the DOJ under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. — Read the rest

The post Bondi and Patel hide senders of Epstein's most disturbing emails appeared first on Boing Boing.

Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales from Texas went on Face the Nation on Sunday and said a lot of silly things, doing his best as a loyal Trump foot soldier to defend the indefensible, to make sense of the nonsensical, and to lie about all the rest.

However, I wanted to focus on one bit of the clip that I've watched over a dozen times, and still can't figure out what Rep. Gonzales meant. And I'm writing this in hopes that some DC or Texas reporter asks Gonzales to explain. Here's the clip:

Gonzales on Liam Ramos and his family: "They're not gonna qualify for asylum. So what do you do with all the people that go through the process and do not qualify for asylum? You deport them. I understand that 5-year-old and it breaks my heart. I also think, what about that 5-year-old US citizen?"

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) 2026-02-08T16:09:49.039Z

And here's the transcript from CBS. I'm including a bit more than is in the clip just to get the full context of what he's saying:

MARGARET BRENNAN: You have this facility, though, in your district, Dilley, and that is for family detentions. That's where little five-year-old Liam Ramos from Minnesota was held before a judge, that's the picture of him there, ordered him released. He was ordered released because his family has a pending asylum claim, a legal process. He had entered with U.S. government permission through a process that the Biden administration had deemed legal. The current administration does not. The CBPOne app. Liam's father gave an interview to Telemundo and you read the transcript, he's talking about this five-year-old. He's not okay. He's waking up at night crying. He's worried he's going to be taken again. It's psychological trauma, according to the father. And the administration is still trying to deport him. Do you understand why they are so focused on this five-year-old and his dad if they did come in through the front door with U.S. government permission? 

REP. GONZALES: Well, the front door was via an app that Biden knew exactly what he was doing, and he created this huge mess, and now President Trump is there to clean up.

MARGARET BRENNAN: -but he came in the front door, he wasn't-

REP. GONZALES: -through an app-

MARGARET BRENNAN: -across the border-

REP. GONZALES: -through an app that wasn't vetted. And bottom line is, he's likely- they're not going to qualify for asylum. So what do you do with all the people that go through the process and do not qualify for asylum? You deport them. I understand the five-year-old and it, you know, it breaks my heart. I have a five year old at home. I also think, what about that five-year-old U.S. citizen-

MARGARET BRENNAN: -You feel comfortable defending that? 

REP. GONZALES: I feel comfortable- we have to have a nation of laws. If we don't have a nation of laws-

MARGARET BRENNAN: -They were following the- the law that is- that is that's the rub, is that a new administration deemed the last administration's regulation not to be legal.

Again, there's a lot of nonsense in there, including Gonzales trying to pretend that Liam Ramos and his father had not entered the right way and following the laws of the US for those seeking to come here just because it was "through an app." That app was the legal process. They followed the law. They did it the right way. To magically make that out to be violating the law because the next administration no longer wants to support that path doesn't change the underlying fact that they were doing things the legal way.

But, again, let's leave that aside. I simply want to focus in on the question of what the fuck Gonzales meant when he said:

I understand the five-year-old and it, you know, it breaks my heart. I have a five year old at home. I also think, what about that five-year-old U.S. citizen-

What about them? Under what scenario, process, or idea is that hypothetical five-year-old US citizen harmed? I've been unable to think or a single possible scenario in which the US citizen five-year-old could be harmed by allowing Liam Ramos to go through the asylum process.

Perhaps Rep. Gonzales can enlighten us by completing his thought and explaining.

Seriously: what is the scenario here? Is pre-kindergarten a zero-sum game now? Does Liam Ramos's presence in a classroom somehow harm the US citizen in the next seat?

Brennan cut him off before he could finish the thought, and nobody followed up. So we don't know. But I'd really like someone in the DC or Texas press corps to ask him to complete that sentence. Because I can think of one very obvious way that five-year-old US citizens are being harmed right now—and it's not by Liam Ramos.

It's by watching their government kidnap their classmates.

Nicholas Grossman talked about how his own child is distraught because some of his classmates can no longer come to school for fear their parents may be kidnapped by ICE:

My first grader (a US citizen) came home from school crying because a friend from class (also a US citizen) hasn't been coming to school because his parents (one of whom is not a citizen) are afraid of ICE.Little kids don't have concepts of racism and xenophobia. That has to be taught. Or imposed.

— Nicholas Grossman (@nicholasgrossman.bsky.social) 2026-02-08T17:11:41.156Z

Indeed, the NY Times went and actually spoke with Liam Ramos' classmates, and they seem legitimately distraught that government agents kidnapped their friend and sent him halfway across the country to a dangerous concentration camp. The video on that page is absolutely heartbreaking. I don't see how anyone with a soul could possibly support or justify what is being done to Ramos. And to claim it's in the name of his US citizen classmates is even more obnoxious. Just a couple of the quotes from five year olds:

"You are scaring schools, people, and the world. You should be kind, helpful, and caring like normal police. Not dangerous, scary, and stealing people. I think you should make friends with the world."

"You, right now, you're making people really sad because you're just taking them away without them doing anything."

So, please, Rep. Gonazales, tell us what you were thinking. What about those five-year-olds? What about kidnapping their classmate makes them better off? What about any of this makes sense? They're not criminals. They followed the official legal process. They came in through "the front door" following the official process of the government at the time.

At no point have they done anything wrong.

So please, Rep. Gonzales: finish the thought. What about that five-year-old US citizen?

Because those five-year-old US citizens have already given their answer. They're not being harmed by Liam Ramos. They're being harmed by a government that just taught them their friends can disappear without warning.

That's "what about" them.

4.8 million UK broadband customers are missing out on £1.05bn of savings. This is the finding of analysis by comparison site Broadband Genie.

Broadband social tariffs are available to 5.3 million households. You can apply for one if you receive benefits or Universal Credit. Currently however, only a fraction (10%) of eligible households take up a social tariff.

A broadband social tariff costs less than a regular deal. Eligible customers can sign up for as little as £10 a month, significantly less over a 12-month period than a regular broadband plan. Broadband Genie's analysis estimates that eligible households would save £220 a year by switching to a social tariff.

What is a broadband social tariff?

A broadband social tariff is a broadband contract available to people on benefits and Universal Credit. You receive the same level of service as any other customer, but at a lower monthly cost. Eligible customers can switch to a social tariff at any time, won't incur any mid-contract price rises, and will not have to pay any setup or exit fees.

Purpl is a platform that finds discounts for disabled people and people living with long-term health conditions. Founder Georgina Colman highlighted the need to raise awareness of available support and the risks disabled consumers face if broadband becomes unaffordable:

This is a cost-of-living scandal hiding in plain sight. Millions of people on low incomes, including disabled people and those on Universal Credit, are overpaying for broadband simply because they don't know help exists.

Broadband is an essential service, and when households could be saving around £220 a year, the lack of awareness around social tariffs is letting people down. Providers need to do far more to actively tell customers what they're entitled to.

If broadband becomes unaffordable, disabled people don't just lose an internet connection, they lose a vital lifeline. For many, it's how they stay in touch with family, access support, manage their health and avoid isolation.

Disabled people are already more likely to experience loneliness, and pricing them out of broadband risks cutting them off from the world at a time when digital access is no longer optional.

How to sign up to a social tariff

• Do you qualify for a social tariff? Eligibility criteria vary between providers, but social tariffs are generally available to low-income households and those receiving benefits such as Universal Credit, Jobseeker's Allowance, Housing Benefit and Disability Living Allowance.
• Compare the tariffs available to you. If your current provider doesn't offer a social tariff, or you don't meet their criteria, you may wish to explore other options. If you explain your circumstances, your provider might let you leave your current contract without paying a penalty fee. Ofcom and trusted comparison sites publish information on the broadband tariffs available.
• Apply with the provider. To apply, you'll usually need to provide your contact details, National Insurance number, and proof of benefits. Once submitted, your provider will verify your eligibility with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). This process is typically quick and can sometimes be completed instantly.
• Switching and installation. If you're switching to a new provider, the One Touch Switch process means your new provider will handle all the stress of cancelling your existing contract and activating your new connection.
• I'm not eligible for a social tariff, or my application was rejected. If your application was rejected, double-check the eligibility criteria. If you can't get a broadband social tariff, 8.8 million bill payers are out of contract and are free to switch to something cheaper.

Alex Tofts from Broadband Genie said:

While take-up of broadband social tariffs is moving in the right direction, progress is slow. Only a fraction of eligible households are signed up to a social tariff.

We encourage anyone who thinks they're eligible for a social tariff to apply online or to contact their provider.

Awareness of these tariffs is a huge challenge, and providers need to play their part in making these products known to consumers. We found less than half of providers mention their social tariff on their website homepage. Offering social tariffs is voluntary for providers, and integrating them into a sustainable business model can be challenging. As a result, many providers invest little in promoting these packages.

If you're not eligible for a social tariff, 8.8 million bill payers are out of contract and can switch or renew their deal to lower their monthly outgoings.

Featured image via the Canary

By The Canary

On social media, Green party leader Zack Polanski used a single word to tear apart Keir Starmer's 'I'm not resigning because I'm noble' shtick.

Polanski: "Mandates…"

Mandates…. https://t.co/GaJxZPf8xL pic.twitter.com/rNZeUQBubE— Zack Polanski (@ZackPolanski) February 10, 2026

Indeed, Starmer was elected Labour leader on a mandate to carry out policies that party members support. But as soon as Starmer became Labour leader he gradually ditched every single one of those pledges — as Polanski highlighted.

Starmer tore up his mandate

On the pledge sheet sent to Labour members, Starmer promised raising income tax on the top 5% of earners. But in September 2023, the MP for Holborn and St Pancras walked that back, stating there would be no increase. It was a lie and Polanski is right to point this out.

He also pledged "support[ing] the abolition of tuition fees". Instead, Labour has raised tuition fees by £285 — another lie. This should reduce Starmer's mandate to tatters and he should be recalled for another election.

It's increasingly clear that words mean very little to Starmer. He also promised that he would "put the Green New Deal at the heart of everything we do".

And yet again, in February 2024, the Labour leader dropped a £28bn per year commitment to green energy. And in government, he's propping up fossil fuel firms with £22bn for carbon capture projects that don't even work.

Another pledge from Starmer was "no more illegal wars" and to:

"put human rights at the heart of foreign policy. Review all UK arms sales and make us a force for international peace and justice.

But the Labour government has provided diplomatic cover, arms, and logistic support for Israel's genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza. So that's another lie.

Starmer also claimed that "public services should be in public hands, not making profits for shareholders. Support common ownership of rail, mail, energy and water."

But in similar form, he dropped plans to re-nationalise energy, mail and water. On rail, Labour is only nationalising the services, not the actual trains themselves. We will still rent those from rolling stock companies.

Another betrayed pledge was to "defend free movement as we leave the EU". But in November 2022, he reversed his position. He branded free movement a "red-line" that "won't come back under my government".

Under another, Starmer expressed his commitment to working:

shoulder to shoulder with trade unions to stand up for working people.

But then he demanded that his shadow cabinet do not join picket lines.

Resign

With these broken pledges in mind, the lies are stacking up, and Starmer should have resigned long ago.

In the UK, manifestos and commitments are treated as a joke — a means used by politicians to slide into power. Given the current state of UK politics, the public has grown attuned to these lies, but we must hold the elite to account and demand better — for all!

Featured image via the Canary 

By James Wright

The RMT is demanding a new law to safeguard transport workers in Scotland against a sharp rise in assaults. This comes ahead of a meeting with MSPs in Holyrood.

Action Against Assaults

The union will hold the 'Action Against Assaults' event at the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday 11 February at 1pm.

This event will bring together:

• The cabinet secretary for Justice and Home Affairs, Angela Constance MSP.
• MSPs from across the chamber.
• The British Transport Police.
• Rail and passenger ferry operators.
• Passenger organisations.

RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey will set out the union's demand for the creation of a standalone offence of assaulting or abusing a public transport worker at work. This is similar to protections already in place for retail staff and emergency service workers.

The union is calling on all political parties contesting the Scottish Parliament elections in May 2026 to commit in their manifestos to introducing such legislation if elected.

Dempsey said:

No worker should go to their job fearing they will be assaulted, abused or threatened simply for doing their job.

But that is the daily reality for far too many public transport workers.

Seventy per cent of rail workers have faced violence in the past year and nearly half of our ferry members say the threat of violence is harming their mental health. That is a scandal which demands action.

We welcome the engagement from the Scottish Government to date and the meeting with the Cabinet Secretary for Justice, but warm words must now become law.

Retail and emergency service workers rightly have specific legal protection and we want the same for public transport workers too.

As we approach the 2026 Scottish Parliament elections, every party must commit to creating a standalone offence of assaulting or abusing a public transport worker.

An RMT survey found that 70% of rail workers in Scotland experienced workplace violence in the past year. 80% believed violence had increased over the same period. The survey identified lone working as a major risk factor. Nearly 60 per cent of those who experienced assaults said they were working alone at the time.

The union also highlighted Scottish government research from 2023 which found that women and girls feel significantly safer on public transport when staff are present. This applies at stations, in ticket offices and onboard trains.

Nearly half of RMT passenger ferry members reported that the threat of violence at work has negatively affected their mental health.

In 2022, the Scottish government confirmed it was exploring the creation of a standalone offence.

Since then, a working group involving rail unions has been convened to consider enforcement measures. The cabinet secretary for Transport, Fiona Hyslop MSP, told parliament that stronger legal protections were under consideration and that the government was taking the matter "extremely seriously".

Featured image via the Canary

By The Canary