The Six Questions We Still Need Answered
Plus: Logging off X
Dear Citizens,
There’s been a lot of talk about Russia this week, and much of it sounds familiar. And bad! Our explainer returns to six questions the UK government still has not answered about Russian interference, foreign political influence and how to protect our democracy. If you’re trying to make sense of the headlines, start here.
Here’s what else to read, watch and do this week.
💵 ONE READ: Follow the Money 💵
Not a traditional article but an extraordinary resource: Tech Influence Watch lets you see where crypto and AI money is flowing as the 2026 U.S. elections approach. The interactive tracker currently follows $526.7 million in industry contributions and $187.2 million spent directly on federal races, searchable by company, donor, PAC, candidate and state. It comes from Molly White’s excellent (and entirely reader-funded) Citation Needed newsletter.
👉 Bonus read: Not our usual lane, but Timothy Snyder is characteristically clear on the grotesque plan to livestream a U.S. military execution. He explains why turning state killing into shareable online spectacle is psychologically, historically, politically and ethically wrong. Read Four Wrongs of a Public Execution.
🎥 ONE WATCH: Who Gave Musk This Power? 🎥
Oscar-winning filmmaker Alex Gibney joins Democracy Now! to discuss Musk, his nearly four-hour documentary tracing Elon Musk’s rise across business, technology and politics. Gibney’s two animating questions are the right ones: How did Musk amass so much power—and why did we give it to him?
⚡ ONE ACTION: Go on Attention Strike ⚡
An Attention Strike is a new coordinated effort to encourage people to take a day off from one Big Tech platform at a time. The goal? Get thousands of people to withdraw the attention, data and advertising revenue those companies depend on.
The first strike is Friday, October 23, when participants will log off X for 24 hours. Organisers will track participation and estimate the revenue collectively withheld. Sign up, download the briefing and join the strike.
👀 Also worth knowing: EFF warns that a new U.S. site-blocking bill would let copyright owners seek orders requiring internet providers—including VPNs—to block access to accused foreign websites.
That’s all for this week,
Team Citizens
*PS - Join our Signal Chat if you haven’t already! 400+ people share practical advice on protecting your data, organising against Big Tech and staying ahead of what you need to know.
