Putin/Farage 2026!
Plus: Mapping The Authoritarian Stack
Dear Citizens,
We’re just back from Davos* and ready to fight for our freedoms! If you missed Canadian PM Mark Carney declaring an end to the world order as we know it, it’s worth a read here.
Also important this week: our friends at Free Press have new research here showing that every major U.S. media and tech company (except one) has eliminated or backpedaled on commitments to diversity, equity and inclusion in the face of Trump administration threats.
Bad stuff! Great research. Follow Jessica Gonzalez on Bluesky for more. Also, viva Netflix!?
Here’s what else to read, watch + know this week.
(*we weren’t at Davos)
🚩 ONE READ: The Authoritarian Stack 🚩
Professor Francesca Bria with xof-research.org have created a fascinating, must-read-and-scroll view of the tech ecosystem, mapping the “Authoritarian Stack”—a network of firms, funds, and political actors turning core state functions into private platforms. Based on an open-source dataset of over 250 actors, thousands of verified connections, and $45 billion in documented financial flows.
The TL/DR?
Silicon Valley isn’t building apps anymore. It’s building empires. Silicon Valley’s Authoritarian Tech Right is not theorizing this world. They are already building it. The pipelines are operational. The feedback loops are functioning. The sovereignty transfers are completing.
Dig into the maps, charts and unreal data viz work here.
🇬🇧 ONE WATCH: Tanned, Rested + Ready 🇷🇺
As revelations continue to come to light about Russia’s disinformation barrage on global politics, is a vote in the UK for Reform a vote for Putin? What are Nigel Farage’s links to the far right convicted felon, Steve Bannon? How has our data been exploited by politicians, Cambridge Analytica and social media platforms over the last decade?
In this terrific conversation, Carole Cadwalladr and Bold Politics host Zack Polanski dig in:
Our 50% discount is still live. Until 31 January, you can support the Citizens for £2.50 a month or just £30 for the year.
🧠 ONE ACTION: A Pause on Palantir 🧠
Speaking of which… let’s throw some sand in the gears of Palantir’s UK takeover, yah?
Our petition is calling on the UK Government and Parliament to hold a Parliamentary debate on the expanding use of software and systems provided by Palantir Technologies Inc. across UK defence, security, law enforcement and public services - guaranteeing full transparency and public accountability.
➡️ Sign here.
That’s all for this week,
Team Citizens
*PS - Join our Signal Chat if you haven’t already! There’s 350 people there now.
