‘Should I Stay Or Should I Go Now’: Bette in the News with Byline Radio on the ‘X-Odus’
I joined Byline Radio with Byline Times Podcast host Adrian Goldberg and Byline Times co-founder Peter Jukes, and ex-Twitter executive Bruce Daisley for a thoughtful chat on the mass X-Odus to Bluesky
***Please take out a membership to support the light of truth.***
Byline Times Podcast with Adrian Goldberg
I often speak in song lyrics and The Clash’s ‘Should I Stay or Should I Go’ has been running through my head, as I reflect on the interview I just did with Byline Radio.
Have a listen:
Host Adrian Goldberg invited me, Byline Times co-founder Peter Jukes, and former Twitter executive Bruce Daisley to offer our perspectives on the social media platform owned by Elon Musk, who — as predicted — used it as a weapons’ delivery system to influence the outcome of the US election.
Here is my initial comment on the podcast:
Two years ago, in Byline, we wrote the first Unmusked report, how Twitter was going to be turned into a weaponized hate machine, that it was a $44 billion psyops canon designed to influence the 2024 election.
We wrote that it was going to become a lot like a Russian propaganda outlet under the guise of social media. And I think we've seen all of that come true. I think that it was very clear when Musk posted his first Hitler meme aimed at Justin Trudeau what was really happening. And for me, because I've been thinking about this since you told me we're going to do this space, I believe the dirty secret is that the enemy owns all the battlefields (h/t HiFi), which goes to my broader point that Silicon Valley has long been a kind of influence operation.
It's laden with money from hostile foreign powers. And I have said over and over again, when do we get to the part where we make these platforms public utilities? We all use them for communication, but we have been behind enemy lines for a very long time, and I feel countries need to do a lot more to start protecting the infosphere of their citizens.
We talk a lot about data privacy, but we get none. And I know we're going to talk about this, but I'm just going to get it out of my system. I went over to Bluesky to meet some of my friends. It sounds nice, Bluesky. How lovely. But I spent the first few hours letting all my friends know that they were following stalker accounts impersonating me. So, the influence operations got there before I even did. And you know, I don't care that Jack Dorsey's not there anymore. He promotes Elon Musk, and I feel like the taint lingers. It might be nicer for a while, but we have a bigger, more urgent issue, and that's simply that the enemy owns the battlefields, and what are we going to do about it?—HSC
I am always grateful to be included in these conversations, and for now, I subscribe to Peter Jukes’ ‘non-binary’ philosophy of being on both platforms. I met all the brave activists who understand reality and fight for it daily on Twitter. It’s where I met so many of you beautiful people.
We need safe spaces to communicate, and I hope they are being developed as I type. As I noted on RadPod & Not So Chill last night, I am in the market for carrier pigeons.
Everyone will have to what is right for themselves and their families. In this moment, I am standing my virtual ground, aware, as I have been, that I am behind enemy lines, passing out tweets as leaflets of truth to those who can still distinguish reality.
****
****
Related:
****
Bette Dangerous is a reader-funded magazine. Thank you to all monthly, annual, and founding members.
I expose the corruption of billionaire fascists, while relying on memberships to keep the light on.
Thank you in advance for considering the following:
Share my reporting with allies
Buying my ebooks
A private link to an annual membership discount for older adults, those on fixed incomes or drawing disability, as well as activists and members of the media is available upon request at bettedangerous/gmail. 🥹
More info about Bette Dangerous - This magazine is written by Heidi Siegmund Cuda, an Emmy-award winning investigative reporter/producer, author, and veteran music and nightlife columnist. She is the cohost of RADICALIZED Truth Survives, an investigative show about disinformation and is part of the Byline Media team. Thank you for your support of independent investigative journalism.
🤍
Begin each day with a grateful heart.
🤍
🙈