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From The History Book Buffs at 2025-10-09 01:33:00 (unread)

The horrors of U-boat warfare: the books that inspired Wolfpack by Roger Moorhouse. (https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2025-9-8%2F408901421-44100-2-206566b5b0055.mp3)

KeywordsU-Boat War, Wolfpack, Das Boot, WWII, German perspective, naval history, PTSD, memoirs, historical narrative, empathySummaryIn this conversation, Antonia Senior and Roger Moorhouse dive into the complexities of the U-Boat War during World War II, discussing the launch of the book 'Wolfpack' and its influences. They explore the historical narratives surrounding German soldiers, the psychological impacts of U-Boat warfare, and the importance of empathy in understanding the experiences of those involved. The discussion also highlights the conditions faced by U-Boat crews and the significance of memoirs and accounts in shaping our understanding of this dark chapter in history.The books that inspired Wolfpack include Das Boot, by Lothar-Günther Buchheim; U-Boat Commander, Peter Erich-Kremer; Iron Coffins, Herbert Werner. TakeawaysThe U-Boat War is a complex and often overlooked aspect of WWII.'Wolfpack' aims to provide a German perspective on the U-Boat experience.'Das Boot' serves as a significant cultural reference for understanding U-Boat life.Writing about German soldiers requires a nuanced approach to avoid glorification.Empathy is crucial in recounting the experiences of U-Boat crews.The psychological toll of U-Boat warfare was immense, with many suffering from PTSD.Conditions aboard U-Boats were horrific, leading to severe health issues.Memoirs provide valuable insights into the personal experiences of U-Boat crews.The average age of U-Boat casualties was alarmingly young, highlighting the tragedy of war.Understanding the U-Boat War is essential for a complete narrative of the Battle of the Atlantic.TitlesDiving Deep into the U-Boat WarUnveiling 'Wolfpack': A New PerspectiveSound bites"It's a very exciting day today.""What if we flip that 180 degrees?""It's a pretty horrific experience."Chapters00:00 Introduction to the U-Boat War and Book Launch02:31 The Genesis of 'Wolfpack' and Influential Works05:21 Exploring 'Das Boot' and Its Impact08:11 The Complexity of Writing About German Soldiers11:29 Humanizing the U-Boat Experience14:18 The Horrors of U-Boat Warfare17:33 Mental Health and Combat Stress in U-Boat Crews20:19 Memoirs and Accounts of U-Boat Life23:10 Conditions and Challenges Faced by U-Boat Crews26:01 The Role of Empathy in Historical Narratives29:11 The U-Boat War's Human Cost32:05 Conclusion and Reflections on the U-Boat Experience

From The Rest Is History at 2025-10-09 00:05:00 (unread)

607. Nelson’s Lover: The Scandalous Lady Hamilton (GLT1577197938.mp3?updated=1759929968)

Who was Emma Hamilton, Horatio Nelson’s strikingly beautiful, and famously fashionable mistress? How did she raise herself up from dire poverty, to become a model, actress, dancer, and even an international celebrity? And, why was theirs one of the most famous love affairs of all time? Join Tom and Dominic as they discuss one of history's most remarkable woman - Lady Emma Hamilton - and explore her celebrated relationship with one of Britain's greatest, and most tragic heroes.  Start generating your own greener electricity for less, with £500 off Solar. Visit https://www.hivehome.com/history for more information. T&Cs apply* *Output and savings varies by season, electricity usage and system size. Paid-for surplus requires an eligible SEG tariff. Offer for new customers only. Ends 17th November. Learn more at https://uber.com/onourway _______ Twitter: @TheRestHistory @holland_tom @dcsandbrook Video Editor: Jack Meek Social Producer: Harry Baldwin Assistant Producer: Aaliyah Akude Producer: Tabby Syrett Senior Producer: Theo Young-Smith Exec Producer: Dom Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From Biz & IT – Ars Technica at 2025-10-08 22:18:30 (unread)

Bank of England warns AI stock bubble rivals 2000 dotcom peak

Central bank says market concentration hasn't been this extreme in 50 years.

From Biz & IT – Ars Technica at 2025-10-08 21:02:46 (unread)

Salesforce says it won’t pay extortion demand in 1 billion records breach

Scattered LAPSUS$ Hunters gave Salesforce until Friday to pay or else.

From Biz & IT – Ars Technica at 2025-10-08 17:49:27

Synology caves, walks back some drive restrictions on upcoming NAS models

Policy change affects at least 2025 model Plus, Value, and J-series DiskStations.

From The Media Show at 2025-10-08 17:23:00

Steve Rosenberg, Zanny Minton Beddoes, new Victoria Beckham documentary and the ethics of secret filming (p0m7g44s.mp3)

Katie Razall on some of the week's biggest media stories: BBC Russia Editor, Steve Rosenberg, on winning the Charles Wheeler Award for outstanding contribution to broadcast journalism. Zanny Minton Beddoes, Editor in Chief of the Economist on their new video podcast Insider which launches this week. What are the editorial and ethical issues around secret filming as seen in the recent Panorama documentary Undercover In The Police? And as a new three part Victoria Beckham documentary drops on Netflix we consider the rise of the self produced celebrity documentary.

Producer: Lucy Wai Assistant Producer: Elena Angelides

From Schneier on Security at 2025-10-08 17:10:58

Flok License Plate Surveillance

The company Flok is surveilling us as we drive:

A retired veteran named Lee Schmidt wanted to know how often Norfolk, Virginia’s 176 Flock Safety automated license-plate-reader cameras were tracking him. The answer, according to a U.S. District Court lawsuit filed in September, was more than four times a day, or 526 times from mid-February to early July. No, there’s no warrant out for Schmidt’s arrest, nor is there a warrant for Schmidt’s co-plaintiff, Crystal Arrington, whom the system tagged 849 times in roughly the same period.

You might think this sounds like it violates the Fourth Amendment, which protects American citizens from unreasonable searches and seizures without probable cause. Well, so does the American Civil Liberties Union. Norfolk, Virginia Judge Jamilah LeCruise also agrees, and in 2024 she ruled that plate-reader data obtained without a search warrant couldn’t be used against a defendant in a robbery case...

From More or Less: Behind the Stats at 2025-10-08 09:30:00

Does half the UK get more in benefits than they pay in tax? (p0m7860n.mp3)

Tim Harford investigates some of the numbers in the news. This week:

The Daily Mail says that over half of the UK population live in households that get more in benefits than they pay in tax - is it true?

Do some billionaires earn more in a night than the population of Bournemouth earns in a year? New Green leader Zack Polanski seems to think so - we scrutinise the figures.

Are older generations getting smarter?

Have 77% of Gen-Z brought a parent along to a job interview? Really?

If you’ve seen a number you think we should take a look at, email the team: moreorless@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Tim Harford Reporter: Lizzy McNeill Producer: Nathan Gower Series producer: Tom Colls Production co-ordinator: Maria Ogundele Sound mix: Duncan Hannant Editor: Richard Vadon

From Quite right! at 2025-10-08 00:01:00

Was that Kemi Badenoch's last conference? Quite right! live from Manchester (media.mp3?tk=eyJ0ayI6ImRlZmF1bHQiLCJhZHMiOnRydWUsInNwb25zIjp0cnVlLCJzdGF0dXMiOiJwdWJsaWMifQ==&sig=3IDzwxjogbPnaV6UqB9kWWdp7RLnmCLqnZ-4pWQ_Sl8)

This week, Michael and Maddie record Quite right! in front of a live audience at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester – with attendance down, the big question is whether Kemi Badenoch can survive as leader of the opposition. There is the unmistakable air of fatalism among MPs staring down electoral annihilation – but would another change in leadership cement the Tories as pathologically regicidal?

They also debate Badenoch’s bold pledge to bar candidates who won’t back leaving the European Convention on Human Rights – a ‘calculated risk’ that could redefine the party’s identity or too little too late?

Then, in the wake of the horrific Manchester synagogue attack, they turn to the rise of anti-Semitism and the crisis of policing. Are Britain’s streets really being governed by ‘two-tier justice’? And what does it say about public order – and public confidence – that Jewish Britons are being told to stay indoors for their own safety?

Finally, they dissect the Church of England’s choice of Sarah Mullally as the new Archbishop of Canterbury. Is she an inspired appointment, or proof that the Church has become, as Michael puts it, ‘another bureaucratic manifestation of generalised niceness’?

Produced by Oscar Edmondson

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From Schneier on Security at 2025-10-07 12:04:23

AI-Enabled Influence Operation Against Iran

Citizen Lab has uncovered a coordinated AI-enabled influence operation against the Iranian government, probably conducted by Israel.

Key Findings

• A coordinated network of more than 50 inauthentic X profiles is conducting an AI-enabled influence operation. The network, which we refer to as “PRISONBREAK,” is spreading narratives inciting Iranian audiences to revolt against the Islamic Republic of Iran.
• While the network was created in 2023, almost all of its activity was conducted starting in January 2025, and continues to the present day.
• The profiles’ activity appears to have been synchronized, at least in part, with the military campaign that the Israel Defense Forces conducted against Iranian targets in June 2025. ...

From School of War at 2025-10-07 10:30:00

Ep 237: Toshi Yoshihara on China’s Subversive Strategies (NEBM6270282605.mp3)

Toshi Yoshihara, Senior Fellow at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments and author of Mao's Army Goes to Sea: The Island Campaigns and the Founding of China's Navy, joins the show to discuss how the PLA took Beijing in 1949 by subversion, and how they may yet seize Taiwan.       ▪️ Times     •      01:53 Introduction     •      03:24 Peaceful liberation     •      07:19 Planning and preparation              •      10:36 Isolation     •      17:30 A tradition of manipulation             •      23:51 True believers                •      28:23 Helpless         •      34:55 Political warfare               •      41:53 Surprise     •      47:32 Holy Grail     •      50:51 Fault lines     •      57:44 What to read? Follow along on Instagram, X @schoolofwarpod, and YouTube @SchoolofWarPodcast Find a transcript of today’s episode on our School of War Substack

From Biz & IT – Ars Technica at 2025-10-06 15:45:28

AMD wins massive AI chip deal from OpenAI with stock sweetener

ChatGPT maker will be allowed to buy 10% of AMD for a penny per share.

From Schneier on Security at 2025-10-06 12:06:22

AI in the 2026 Midterm Elections

We are nearly one year out from the 2026 midterm elections, and it’s far too early to predict the outcomes. But it’s a safe bet that artificial intelligence technologies will once again be a major storyline.

The widespread fear that AI would be used to manipulate the 2024 U.S. election seems rather quaint in a year where the president posts AI-generated images of himself as the pope on official White House accounts. But AI is a lot more than an information manipulator. It’s also emerging as a politicized issue. Political first-movers are adopting the technology, and that’s opening a ...

From The Rest Is History at 2025-10-06 00:05:00

606. Enoch Powell: Rivers of Blood (GLT7520958596.mp3?updated=1759510185)

Who was Enoch Powell, the deeply controversial British conservative politician? Why is he the father of Brexit, and possibly even Reform? And, how did he come to make his inflammatory ‘Rivers of Blood speech’, in 1968?    Join Dominic and Tom as they discuss Enoch Powell - one of the most incendiary and contentious figures in all of British political history - and his enduring shadow today. Start generating your own greener electricity for less, with £500 off Solar. Visit https://www.hivehome.com/history for more information. T&Cs apply* *Output and savings varies by season, electricity usage and system size. Paid-for surplus requires an eligible SEG tariff. Offer for new customers only. Ends 17th November. Learn more at https://www.uber.com/onourway Join The Rest Is History Club: Unlock the full experience of the show – with exclusive bonus episodes, ad-free listening, early access to every series and live show tickets, a members-only newsletter, discounted books from the show, and access to our private Discord chatroom. Sign up directly at therestishistory.com For more Goalhanger Podcasts, head to www.goalhanger.com _______ Twitter: @TheRestHistory @holland_tom @dcsandbrook Senior Producer: Theo Young-Smith Producer: Tabby Syrett Assistant Producer: Aaliyah Akude  Executive Producers: Jack Davenport + Tony Pastor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From Biz & IT – Ars Technica at 2025-10-04 14:21:55

ICE wants to build a 24/7 social media surveillance team

ICE plans to hire contractors to scan platforms to target people for deportation.

From More or Less: Behind the Stats at 2025-10-04 06:00:00

Is the world getting less miserable? (p0m6jgb5.mp3)

When you follow the news, particularly in countries like the UK and the US, it sometimes feels like people are less optimistic about their lives than they were in the past. But a new piece of analysis from polling company Gallup suggests this might just be the local view, not the global one. Using data from the Gallup World Poll, it suggests that “people in more countries are living better lives and expressing more hope for the future” than at any point in the last decade.

Tim Harford speaks to Gallup’s Benedict Vigers, who wrote the report, to understand what improvements in the “global median for thriving” really means. If you’ve seen a number in the news you think we should look at, email the team: moreorless@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Tim Harford Series producer: Tom Colls Sound mix: Bob Nettles Editor: Richard Vadon

From Schneier on Security at 2025-10-03 22:05:28

Friday Squid Blogging: Squid Overfishing in the Southwest Atlantic

Article. Report.

From Biz & IT – Ars Technica at 2025-10-03 18:49:26

Ars Live: Is the AI bubble about to pop? A live chat with Ed Zitron.

Join a live discussion on October 7 about the AI gold rush.

From A Collection of Unmitigated Pedantry at 2025-10-03 17:05:24

Gap Week: October 3, 2025

Hey folks! Apologies for the lack of a post this week – a mix of teaching, writing and family demands had to come first. Still, so that I don’t leave you with nothing to read, here are some things I’ve been reading and watching lately you may find interesting. Over on YouTube, Tod Todeschini of … Continue reading Gap Week: October 3, 2025 →

From The Incomparable Mothership at 2025-10-03 17:00:00

786: Vatgrown Ninja Assassins (560a2365-7002-42cb-b41d-2e3bce0828f2.mp3)

Grab your cyberspace deck and prepare to jack in—it’s time to discuss William Gibson’s groundbreaking classic novel, “Neuromancer.” We’ve got a panel of experts—and a first-timer!—ready to discuss how 1984’s future looks from the perspective of 2025’s present....

From School of War at 2025-10-03 10:30:00

Ep 236: Joshua Rovner on Grand Strategy (NEBM9943308151.mp3)

Joshua Rovner, Associate Professor in the School of International Service at American University and author of Strategy and Grand Strategy, joins the show to discuss the tension between pursuing military victory and securing a nation.       ▪️ Times     •      01:28 Introduction     •      01:35 MIT      •      05:03 Grand strategy              •      10:45 Peloponnesian War      •      18:05 Spartan strategy             •      22:34 Pericles                •      27:18 A terrible irony         •      32:43 Disastrous victory               •      41:35 British power     •      46:13 Atomic strategy Follow along on Instagram, X @schoolofwarpod, and YouTube @SchoolofWarPodcast Find a transcript of today’s episode on our School of War Substack

From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2025-10-03 04:30:00

Who’s Going To Win The Future? Dan Wang on China’s Engineers vs. America’s Lawyers | GoodFellows | Hoover Institution (GoodFellows_2025-10-01_-_Dan_Wang_wip04_podcast_a1v8g.mp3)

One great power (China) has a relentless thirst to build that comes with a terrible human cost, while its main rival (America) is a more lawyerly and free society that’s prone to stifling ideas both good and bad. On the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, Dan Wang, a Hoover Institution research fellow and author of the bestseller Breakneck: China’s Quest to Engineer the Future, joins GoodFellows regulars Niall Ferguson and H.R. McMaster to discuss what the future holds for the two Cold War 2 rivals, plus Wang’s firsthand experiences witnessing China’s engineering boom and enduring its draconian pandemic policies. After that, the fellows weigh in on President Trump’s recent United Nations address and the state of that institution, the likelihood of Trump’s Gaza peace plan coming to fruition, the provision of long-range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, plus the merits of a US military strike inside Venezuela to counter narco-terrorism. In the lightning round: why America’s military brass gathered at Quantico; National Guard troops head to Portland, Oregon; Scotland’s frustration with illegal immigration; and the feasibility of the US regaining Afghanistan’s Bagram Air Base.  Subscribe to GoodFellows for clarity on today’s biggest social, economic, and geostrategic shifts — only on GoodFellows.

From Biz & IT – Ars Technica at 2025-10-02 22:10:23

Why iRobot’s founder won’t go within 10 feet of today’s walking robots

Rodney Brooks says humanoid robots pose hidden safety challenges and won't learn dexterity from video alone.

From Schneier on Security at 2025-10-02 17:19:59

Daniel Miessler on the AI Attack/Defense Balance

His conclusion:

Context wins

Basically whoever can see the most about the target, and can hold that picture in their mind the best, will be best at finding the vulnerabilities the fastest and taking advantage of them. Or, as the defender, applying patches or mitigations the fastest.

And if you’re on the inside you know what the applications do. You know what’s important and what isn’t. And you can use all that internal knowledge to fix things­—hopefully before the baddies take advantage.

Summary and prediction

1. Attackers will have the advantage for 3-5 years. For less-advanced defender teams, this will take much longer. ...

From Net Assessment at 2025-10-02 14:19:00

Prediction is Hard, Especially about Confidence Levels (Net_Assessment_-_02_Oct_2025_v1.mp3?dest-id=808287)

Chris, Melanie, and Zack discuss the confidence problem among national security experts. As Jeffrey Friedman shows in a recent Texas National Security Review article, experts are often right but almost always overconfident in their predictions. What does this mean for the national security community? And how can experts address this systemic problem? Chris laments the Pentagon’s in-person gathering of military leaders and Melanie condemns misguided economic policymaking, while Zack commends President Trump’s support for a tougher NATO response to Russian incursions.

Links:

• Jeffrey Friedman, “The World Is More Uncertain Than You Think: Assessing and Combating Overconfidence Among 2,000 National Security Officials,” Texas National Security Review, Fall 2025.

• “Ask The Experts,” Foreign Affairs.

• Philip E. Tetlock, Expert Political Judgment: How Good Is It? How Can We Know?, Princeton University Press, 2017.

• Drew FitzGerald and Lara Seligman, “Pentagon Pushes to Double Missile Production for Potential China Conflict,” Wall Street Journal, September 29, 2025.

• Derek Scissors and Zack Cooper, “Is Trump Capitulating to China,” AEIdeas, September 25, 2025.

• Zack Cooper, “Rethinking the Rebalance,” IDSS Paper, September 5, 2025.

• Sam Rosenfeld and Matthew Yglesias, “The Incompetence Dodge,” American Prospect, October 23, 2005.

• Tara Copp, Dan Lamothe, Noah Robertson and Alex Horton, “Trump to attend gathering of top generals, upending last-minute plans,” Washington Post, September 28, 2025.

• Adam Goldstein, “Why our critics’ whataboutery over Jimmy Kimmel is wrong,” FIRE, September 22, 2025.

• Tom Karako, A Marie Kondo Moment for MTCR: Tidying Up the US Approach to Missile Proliferation, CSIS, September 23, 2025. 

• Elisabeth Buchwald, "Trump Vows to Enact 'Substantial' Tariffs on Imported Furniture," CNN, September 29, 2025. 

From Strong Message Here at 2025-10-02 09:45:00

The Battle for the Soul of the Country (p0m63kjf.mp3)

Armando is at the Labour Party conference (well, in a portakabin in a car park nearby - the glamour!), and is joined by Newscast's Adam Fleming to chat all things conference.

Has message discipline killed the party conference? Or does their own momentum still make them newsworthy? Looking at conferences past, we look at what makes them an interesting part of the political calendar, and how language comes to the fore.

Listen to Strong Message Here on Radio 4 at 9:45 on Tuesdays, and an extended version is available on BBC Sounds.

Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios Production for Radio 4.

From The Rest Is History at 2025-10-02 00:05:00

605. Greek Myths: Jason & The Quest for the Golden Fleece (Part 4) (GLT3067620137.mp3?updated=1759342659)

What terrifying trials did Jason and the Argonauts have to overcome to win the famous Golden Fleece from a fire-breathing dragon, in one of the greatest greek myths of all time? When and where does this thrilling story come from? How does it tie together the tales of Odysseus, Orpheus, Achilles and Circe? Is there any historical evidence for the story of Jason and the Argonauts? What are the origins of Medea, the beautiful but vindictive sorceress who Jason marries? Did the Greeks still worship the Olympian gods in the more skeptical Hellenistic age? How did the coming of Alexander the Great transform the Greeks’ understanding of the divine? And, were the Olympian gods really once mortal kings and queens of an earlier age, or were they planets..? Join Tom and Dominic as they conclude their epic journey into the glorious heart of Greek mythology, as they explore their evolution in an increasingly skeptical Hellenistic world, and answer the question; why did the Greek myths endure and captivate audiences throughout history, in a way that no other culture’s mythology did? Try Adobe Express for free now at https://www.adobe.com/uk/express/spotlight/designwithexpress?sdid=HM85WZZV&mv=display&mv2=ctv or by searching in the app store. LRB are offering six months access to their full archive for just £12, plus a free tote bag. Visit https://LRB.me/history Learn more at https://www.uber.com/onourway Join The Rest Is History Club: Unlock the full experience of the show – with exclusive bonus episodes, ad-free listening, early access to every series and live show tickets, a members-only newsletter, discounted books from the show, and access to our private Discord chatroom. Sign up directly at therestishistory.com For more Goalhanger Podcasts, head to www.goalhanger.com _______ Twitter: @TheRestHistory @holland_tom @dcsandbrook Producer: Theo Young-Smith Assistant Producer: Tabby Syrett + Aaliyah Akude  Video Producer: Oli Oakley  Executive Producers: Jack Davenport + Tony Pastor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From Biz & IT – Ars Technica at 2025-10-01 23:16:07

That annoying SMS phish you just got may have come from a box like this

Smishers looking for new infrastructure are getting creative.

From The Media Show at 2025-10-01 20:28:00

TV rights and the Boat Race, conspiracy theories in the media ecosystem, Larry Ellison, Newspaper legal challenge to Reform UK (p0m64q0k.mp3)

Ros Atkins on some of the biggest media stories this week. As the BBC loses TV rights to the Boat Race – we talk to Siobhan Cassidy Chair of the Boat Race Company and Pete Andrews, Head of Sport at Channel 4 which will now broadcast the annual event. We profile the tech billionaire Larry Ellison – as he steps further into the media world - with Telegraph journalist James Warrington. We'll look at the routes that conspiracy theories take through the media ecosystem with Dr Robert Topinka from Birkbeck University and the broadcaster and author Dr Matthew Sweet. We hear why online content creators teaming up with broadcasters can sometimes be a difficult working relationship with Ben Doyle, co-founder of After Party Studios and Natalie Fahy Editor of the Nottinghamshire Post and its online arm Nottinghamshire Live tells us about their legal challenge to Reform UK after they stopped speaking to their reporters, sending them press releases and inviting them to events.

Producer: Lisa Jenkinson Assistant Producer: Lucy Wai

From Biz & IT – Ars Technica at 2025-10-01 19:37:00

OpenAI’s Sora 2 lets users insert themselves into AI videos with sound

Sora social app launches with deepfake-style "cameos" and feed controls.

From The Django weblog at 2025-10-01 14:55:00

Django security releases issued: 5.2.7, 5.1.13, and 4.2.25

In accordance with our security release policy, the Django team is issuing releases for Django 5.2.7, Django 5.1.13, and Django 4.2.25. These releases address the security issues detailed below. We encourage all users of Django to upgrade as soon as possible.

From Schneier on Security at 2025-10-01 12:09:51

Use of Generative AI in Scams

New report: “Scam GPT: GenAI and the Automation of Fraud.”

This primer maps what we currently know about generative AI’s role in scams, the communities most at risk, and the broader economic and cultural shifts that are making people more willing to take risks, more vulnerable to deception, and more likely to either perpetuate scams or fall victim to them.

AI-enhanced scams are not merely financial or technological crimes; they also exploit social vulnerabilities ­ whether short-term, like travel, or structural, like precarious employment. This means they require social solutions in addition to technical ones. By examining how scammers are changing and accelerating their methods, we hope to show that defending against them will require a constellation of cultural shifts, corporate interventions, and eff­ective legislation...

From More or Less: Behind the Stats at 2025-10-01 09:30:00

Has Donald Trump ended seven 'unendable' wars? (p0m5xf6r.mp3)

Tim Harford investigates some of the numbers in the news. This week:

US President Donald Trump claims he has ended seven “unendable” wars. Is that true?

Chancellor Rachel Reeves says the UK was the fastest growing economy in the G7 for the first six months of 2025. What do you need to know about that stat?

The Daily Mail has described a recent scientific paper as describing a global cancer “explosion”. Is that the whole story?

And why have Oxford and Cambridge dropped down a university league table?

If you’ve seen a number you think we should take a look at, email the team: moreorless@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Tim Harford Producers: Nathan Gower and Lizzy McNeill Series producer: Tom Colls Production co-ordinator: Maria Ogundele Sound mix: Gareth Jones Editor: Richard Vadon

From Quite right! at 2025-10-01 01:00:00

Is Labour ‘racist’ too? Plus Trump’s Gaza gamble & Rowling vs Watson (media.mp3?tk=eyJ0ayI6ImRlZmF1bHQiLCJhZHMiOnRydWUsInNwb25zIjp0cnVlLCJzdGF0dXMiOiJwdWJsaWMifQ==&sig=3njDxfJYPvN_0sziBesibx2JHP-klahM2JbP6Z1SEZc)

This week, Michael and Maddie report from the Labour party conference in Liverpool and unpick Keir Starmer’s big speech. Was his attempt to reclaim patriotism for Labour a genuine statement of values – or a clumsy exercise in stereotypes about steelworkers, chip shops and football nostalgia? And why does Labour’s attack line on Nigel Farage risk sounding like political ‘nuclear warfare’ that could backfire outside the conference hall? And what about the Tories? With Labour bringing the fight to the Reform party, where does this leave Kemi Badenoch and the Conservatives ahead of their conference later this week?

They then turn to Donald Trump’s extraordinary new Middle East peace initiative. With Benjamin Netanyahu on board and Tony Blair drafted into the proposed ‘peace board’, is this a serious diplomatic breakthrough or a surreal ‘fever dream’ that only Trump could cook up?

Next, another peace proposal doomed to fail: Emma Watson’s attempt to reconcile with J.K. Rowling after years of public estrangement. Was Watson’s olive branch an act of goodwill or a late recognition that the cultural tide has turned? And why did Rowling’s sharp response strike such a chord with women who felt abandoned during the height of the trans debate?

Produced by Oscar Edmondson, Oscar Bicket and Matt Miszczak.

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Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk

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From Biz & IT – Ars Technica at 2025-09-30 21:25:08

Intel and AMD trusted enclaves, the backbone of network security, fall to physical attacks

The chipmakers say physical attacks aren't in the threat model. Many users didn't get the memo.

From Biz & IT – Ars Technica at 2025-09-30 21:18:39

DeepSeek tests “sparse attention” to slash AI processing costs

Chinese lab's v3.2 release explores a technique that could make running AI far less costly.

From Biz & IT – Ars Technica at 2025-09-30 16:12:10

California’s newly signed AI law just gave Big Tech exactly what it wanted

After the failure of S.B. 1047, new AI disclosure law drops kill switch for disclosure mandate.

From Schneier on Security at 2025-09-30 12:06:03

Details of a Scam

Longtime Crypto-Gram readers know that I collect personal experiences of people being scammed. Here’s an almost:

Then he added, “Here at Chase, we’ll never ask for your personal information or passwords.” On the contrary, he gave me more information—two “cancellation codes” and a long case number with four letters and 10 digits.

That’s when he offered to transfer me to his supervisor. That simple phrase, familiar from countless customer-service calls, draped a cloak of corporate competence over this unfolding drama. His supervisor. I mean, would a scammer have a supervisor?...

From School of War at 2025-09-30 10:30:00

Ep 235: Tyler Grey on Serving in Delta Force and the Warrior’s Journey (NEBM3805830077.mp3)

Tyler Grey, Delta Force veteran and author of Forged in Chaos: A Warrior's Origin Story, joins the show to discuss his experiences as a member of the U.S. Army’s most elite combat unit, his journey as a warrior, and the continuing struggle to understand post-traumatic stress. ▪️ Times     •      01:30 Introduction     •      01:48 Bakersfield, CA      •      06:51 Predators and prey              •      10:48 Not a choice      •      17:11 Rangers             •      23:15 Elite infantry               •      28:37 9/11           •      33:43 Pakistan border              •      41:20 Sniper team     •      44:22 Luck and health           •      47:05 Master of the basics             •      51:36 Fallujah     •      54:29 Sadr City     •      01:06:16 Chaos of combat          •      01:10:01 Lost          •      01:14:26 “LTSD” Follow along on Instagram, X @schoolofwarpod, and YouTube @SchoolofWarPodcast Find a transcript of today’s episode on our School of War Substack

From Biz & IT – Ars Technica at 2025-09-29 23:10:27

Anthropic says its new AI model “maintained focus” for 30 hours on multistep tasks

Latest Claude model beats OpenAI and Google on coding tests.

From Schneier on Security at 2025-09-29 12:07:38

Abusing Notion’s AI Agent for Data Theft

Notion just released version 3.0, complete with AI agents. Because the system contains Simon Willson’s lethal trifecta, it’s vulnerable to data theft though prompt injection.

First, the trifecta:

The lethal trifecta of capabilities is:

• Access to your private data—one of the most common purposes of tools in the first place!
• Exposure to untrusted content—any mechanism by which text (or images) controlled by a malicious attacker could become available to your LLM
• The ability to externally communicate in a way that could be used to steal your data (I often call this “exfiltration” but I’m not confident that term is widely understood.)...

From The Rest Is History at 2025-09-29 00:05:00

604. Greek Myths: Sex, Drugs & Tragedy (Part 3) (GLT7123647684.mp3?updated=1759100706)

Who was Dionysus, the son of Zeus, and Greek god of ecstasy, revelry and madness? Why was he so central to the ancient Greeks? What is the story of the Bacchae, the play in which a young man is ripped apart by the handmaidens of the goddess Artemis? What did it mean to be a Bacchae, one of the followers of Dionysus, and what shocking acts did it entail? Why were female cults like this believed to be integral to the survival of Athens? How did Dionysus’ cult subvert all the conventions of Ancient Greek society? What hedonistic revels occurred at his festivals every year? And, what hidden secrets about his historical origins have been unlocked by subsequent archaeological discoveries…? Join Tom and Dominic as they discuss one of the most exotic and erotic of the Greek gods: Dionysus, and the origins of The Bacchae, the tragedy that immortalised his story, but also transformed Greek drama, and thereby the world, forever… Try Adobe Express for free now at https://www.adobe.com/uk/express/spotlight/designwithexpress?sdid=HM85WZZV&mv=display&mv2=ctv or by searching in the app store. Learn more at https://www.uber.com/onourway Join The Rest Is History Club: Unlock the full experience of the show – with exclusive bonus episodes, ad-free listening, early access to every series and live show tickets, a members-only newsletter, discounted books from the show, and access to our private Discord chatroom. Sign up directly at therestishistory.com For more Goalhanger Podcasts, head to www.goalhanger.com _______ Twitter: @TheRestHistory @holland_tom @dcsandbrook Producer: Theo Young-Smith Assistant Producer: Tabby Syrett + Aaliyah Akude  Video Producer: Bruno Di Castri + Jack Meek Social Producer: Harry Balden Executive Producers: Jack Davenport + Tony Pastor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From More or Less: Behind the Stats at 2025-09-27 06:00:00

The Case of the Missing US Data (p0m56fwd.mp3)

In early February 2025, something strange started happening across US government websites.

Decades of data began disappearing from webpages for agencies such as the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health and the Census Bureau. In many cases the entire website went dark. Within a few days some 8,000 government pages and 3,000 datasets had been taken down. Since then, many have been reinstated - but some have not. We speak to Professors Maggie Levinstein and John Kubale to find out why this data was taken away, and why any of it matters.

If you spot any numbers or statistical claims that you think we should check out contact: moreorless@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Tim Harford Producer: Lizzy McNeill Series Producer: Tom Colls Editor: Richard Vadon Production Co-Ordinator: Rosie Strawbridge Audio Mix: Neil Churchill

From Biz & IT – Ars Technica at 2025-09-26 23:22:13

Can AI detect hedgehogs from space? Maybe if you find brambles first.

Cambridge researchers use satellite-based bramble detection as a proxy for mapping hedgehog habitats.

From Schneier on Security at 2025-09-26 22:03:03

Friday Squid Blogging: Jigging for Squid

A nice story.

From A Collection of Unmitigated Pedantry at 2025-09-26 18:08:51

Collections: Life, Work, Death and the Peasant, Part IVd: Spinning Plates

This is the fourth thread of the fourth part of our series (I, II, IIIa, IIIb, IVa, IVb, IVc) looking at the lives of pre-modern peasant farmers, who make up a majority of all of the humans who have ever lived. We’re thus probing here was has been, in effect, the modal human experience. Over … Continue reading Collections: Life, Work, Death and the Peasant, Part IVd: Spinning Plates →

From The Incomparable Mothership at 2025-09-26 17:00:00

785: The Tiger is Perfect (a6503303-3ee8-42ab-be63-14798234d687.mp3)

We always knew Daniel Dae Kim would accomplish something after “Crusade!” (Kids, ask your “Babylon 5”-loving parents.) Our panel looks back over the three-month phenomenon that has been Netflix’s “KPop Demon Hunters” and gives you reasons to watch it if you’re dispositionally averse to KPop, youth-friendly animation, or popular things. Behind the Spoiler Horn, we dive into how well the story and songs work together, whether it’s an animation breakthrough, the future of the wait-is-this-a-franchise, and what could have been better. (John Siracusa: “NOW you’re singing MY song!”)...

From Schneier on Security at 2025-09-26 12:04:48

Digital Threat Modeling Under Authoritarianism

Today’s world requires us to make complex and nuanced decisions about our digital security. Evaluating when to use a secure messaging app like Signal or WhatsApp, which passwords to store on your smartphone, or what to share on social media requires us to assess risks and make judgments accordingly. Arriving at any conclusion is an exercise in threat modeling.

In security, threat modeling is the process of determining what security measures make sense in your particular situation. It’s a way to think about potential risks, possible defenses, and the costs of both. It’s how experts avoid being distracted by irrelevant risks or overburdened by undue costs...

From School of War at 2025-09-26 10:30:00

Ep 234: A. Wess Mitchell on Diplomacy (NEBM2515752783.mp3)

A. Wess Mitchell, former Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, historian, and author of Great Power Diplomacy: The Skill of Statecraft from Attila the Hun to Kissinger, joins the show to discuss just what diplomacy is. ▪️ Times     •      01:37 Introduction     •      02:08 Bad reutation      •      04:37 Misconceptions              •      09:35 A part of grand strategy      •      13:11 Not trickery              •      18:05 Attila the Hun               •      24:17 Appeasement           •      35:00 Other options              •      39:33 The State Department      •      44:22 Molding diplomats           •      47:31 Ukraine             •      52:47 Major risks Follow along on Instagram, X @schoolofwarpod, and YouTube @SchoolofWarPodcast Find a transcript of today’s episode on our School of War Substack

From Biz & IT – Ars Technica at 2025-09-25 21:30:52

ChatGPT Pulse delivers morning updates based on your chat history

New mobile chatbot feature analyzes conversations overnight.

From Biz & IT – Ars Technica at 2025-09-25 19:10:50

Experts urge caution about using ChatGPT to pick stocks

AI-selected portfolios might perform well in a growing market, but experts warn of downturn risks.

From Biz & IT – Ars Technica at 2025-09-25 13:43:42

As many as 2 million Cisco devices affected by actively exploited 0-day

Search shows 2 million vulnerable Cisco SNMP interfaces exposed to the Internet.

From The History Book Buffs at 2025-09-25 12:02:50

Did books defeat the Soviet Empire? The History Book Buffs read The CIA Book Club by Charlie English. (https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2025-8-25%2F408120295-44100-2-03c62a1c5f869.mp3)

In this episode of  @TheHistoryBookBuffs  Antonia Senior is joined by bestselling author Roger Moorhouse to discuss The CIA Book Club by Charlie English — a thrilling history of how the CIA used books as weapons in the Cold War.They explore how literature was smuggled across the Iron Curtain, why the CIA secretly funded publishing projects, and how novels, poetry, fashion magazines and banned titles became part of the wider battle of propaganda and cultural warfare. Along the way, Senior and Moorhouse reflect on the power of ideas to change societies, and what English’s meticulous research reveals about the hidden history of the Cold War.If you’re fascinated by the CIA, Cold War, or the secret role of books in shaping history, this conversation is essential listening.🎧 Subscribe to The History Book Buffs for more brilliant chat about history books.Books mentioned in this episode:The CIA Book Club, by Charlie English: https://amzn.eu/d/9q5YZsSInhuman Land: Searching for the Truth in Soviet Russia, 1941-1942, by Józef Czapski: https://amzn.eu/d/aKdjIYP1984, by George Orwell: https://amzn.eu/d/77eJP2wTo Kill a Priest, Kevin RuaneRevolution 89, by Victor Sebestyen, https://amzn.eu/d/2OX345rKeywords: CIA, Cold War, espionage, cultural warfare, Charlie English, Roger Moorhouse, Antonia Senior, intelligence history, KGB, books behind the Iron Curtain.

From Schneier on Security at 2025-09-25 12:02:27

Malicious-Looking URL Creation Service

This site turns your URL into something sketchy-looking.

For example, www.schneier.com becomes
https://cheap-bitcoin.online/firewall-snatcher/cipher-injector/phishing_sniffer_tool.html?form=inject&host=spoof&id=bb1bc121&parameter=inject&payload=%28function%28%29%7B+return+%27+hi+%27.trim%28%29%3B+%7D%29%28%29%3B&port=spoof.

Found on Boing Boing.

From Strong Message Here at 2025-09-25 07:00:00

Hurty Words (p0m4vyyt.mp3)

Stewart Lee returns to the show, to join Armando in discussing 'hurty words'.

With Kimmel's suspension, and in the wake of Charlie Kirk's murder, free speech is in the spotlight again. Those who railed against 'cancel culture' are getting into 'consequence culture' We also discuss what how Marvel's superheroes might respond to the actions of their new owners, and whether you can pray in your own homes in this country anymore (spoiler alert, you can).

Listen to Strong Message Here on Radio 4, Thursdays at 9:45, and an extended version is available on BBC Sounds.

Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios Production for Radio 4.

From The Rest Is History at 2025-09-25 00:05:00

603. Greek Myths: The Riddle of the Sphinx (Part 2) (GLT9108845593.mp3?updated=1758732761)

What is the story behind the writing of Oedipus, the notorious king of Thebes who murdered his father and unwittingly married his mother? Was it based on a real historical event? What are Oedipus’ cursed mythic origins in Thebes? Who was Sophocles, the legendary Greek playwright? Why was the play a product of 5th century Athens; its rivalries with other greek city states such as Thebes, a raging plague, and the tyrant Pericles? What horrifying events unfold in Oedipus? It is the greatest tragedy of all time? And, how did it later come to influence Sigmund Freud’s unnerving interpretation of the deepest desires of the  subconscious….?  Join Tom and Dominic as they discuss one of the most famous Greek myths of all time: Oedipus; unravelling this disturbing tragedy, delving into its meaning today, and exploring the historical context behind it all.  ______ Try Adobe Express for free now at https://www.adobe.com/uk/express/spotlight/designwithexpress?sdid=HM85WZZV&mv=display&mv2=ctv or by searching in the app store. Learn more at https://www.uber.com/onourway ______ Join The Rest Is History Club: Unlock the full experience of the show – with exclusive bonus episodes, ad-free listening, early access to every series and live show tickets, a members-only newsletter, discounted books from the show, and access to our private Discord chatroom. Sign up directly at therestishistory.com For more Goalhanger Podcasts, head to www.goalhanger.com _______ Twitter: @TheRestHistory @holland_tom @dcsandbrook Producer: Theo Young-Smith Assistant Producer: Tabby Syrett + Aaliyah Akude  Video Producer: Jack Meek Executive Producers: Jack Davenport + Tony Pastor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From The Media Show at 2025-09-24 18:14:00

Reporting on migrant hotels, Jimmy Kimmel's return, The Hack (p0m4r32f.mp3)

A new BBC investigation into the government's use of hotels to house migrants has led to the government ordering an urgent review into its findings. Journalist Sue Mitchell explains how she got access to record inside these hotels. As Jimmy Kimmel returns to the screen, Brian Stelter, CNN's chief media analyst, assesses what it means for relations between the US media and the Trump administration. Tara Copp, Pentagon correspondent for the Washington Post, takes us through the Pentagon's new restrictions on reporters. Also on the programme, the executive producer of ITV's new drama The Hack, Patrick Spence, reveals how they made the series and the financial pressures facing the TV industry. Plus, creators Jade Beason, BrandonB and Shabaz Ali discuss the value of making niche content.

From Biz & IT – Ars Technica at 2025-09-24 17:06:03

Why does OpenAI need six giant data centers?

OpenAI's new $400 billion announcement reveals both growing AI demand and circular investments.

From Biz & IT – Ars Technica at 2025-09-24 12:15:06

Supermicro server motherboards can be infected with unremovable malware

Baseboard management controller vulnerabilities make remote attacks possible.

From Schneier on Security at 2025-09-24 12:09:19

US Disrupts Massive Cell Phone Array in New York

This is a weird story:

The US Secret Service disrupted a network of telecommunications devices that could have shut down cellular systems as leaders gather for the United Nations General Assembly in New York City.

The agency said on Tuesday that last month it found more than 300 SIM servers and 100,000 SIM cards that could have been used for telecom attacks within the area encompassing parts of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.

“This network had the power to disable cell phone towers and essentially shut down the cellular network in New York City,” said special agent in charge Matt McCool...

From More or Less: Behind the Stats at 2025-09-24 09:30:00

Was it easier to deport migrants to France before Brexit? (p0m4jql1.mp3)

Tim Harford investigates some of the numbers in the news. This week:

Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey says it was easier to deport illegal migrants to Europe when we were in the EU. Is that true?

Did the governor of the Bank of England get his numbers wrong on the UK’s ageing population?

Why is the price of beef up by 25% in a year?

Is it possible to prove that MPs are using AI to write their speeches?

If you’ve seen a number you think we should take a look at, email the team: moreorless@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Tim Harford Reporter: Lizzy McNeill Producers: Nathan Gower and Nicholas Barrett Series producer: Tom Colls Production co-ordinator: Maria Ogundele Sound mix: Gareth Jones Editor: Richard Vadon

From Quite right! at 2025-09-24 00:01:00

Where Blair is wrong, but Farage is right & why recognising Palestine is 'politics at its worst' (media.mp3?tk=eyJ0ayI6ImRlZmF1bHQiLCJhZHMiOnRydWUsInNwb25zIjp0cnVlLCJzdGF0dXMiOiJwdWJsaWMifQ==&sig=VJnkJwBnMk3MxgC3w3SmAjWjK57JDs34qf6FnDas93k)

This week, Michael and Maddie lift the lid on the strange rituals of party conference season and why the ‘goldfish bowl’ reality of a week in Birmingham (or Manchester, or Liverpool) often leaves politicians with ‘PTSD’. 

They then turn to the government’s revived enthusiasm for digital ID cards. Is this a sensible fix for illegal immigration – or, as Michael puts it, ‘snake oil rubbed onto an already weak idea’? And why does Tony Blair always seem to be the ghost whispering ‘ID cards’ into Westminster’s ear?

Next, Keir Starmer’s recognition of a Palestinian state: a principled step, or a political stunt designed to placate his backbenchers? Michael and Madeline dissect the backlash, the ‘terrorist chic’ of pop-concert activism, and what this move really says about Labour’s priorities.

Finally, they reflect on the extraordinary words of Erika Kirk, who publicly forgave her husband’s alleged murderer. What does Christian forgiveness look like in an age that prizes vengeance and why do so many secular commentators miss its radicalism?

Produced by Oscar Edmondson, Oscar Bicket and Matt Miszczak.

Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.

For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts.

Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From Biz & IT – Ars Technica at 2025-09-23 23:23:22

When “no” means “yes”: Why AI chatbots can’t process Persian social etiquette

New study examines how a helpful AI response could become a cultural disaster in Iran.

From Biz & IT – Ars Technica at 2025-09-23 16:52:45

Broadcom’s prohibitive VMware prices create a learning “barrier,” IT pro says

Public schools ran to VMware during the pandemic. Now they're running away.

From Schneier on Security at 2025-09-23 12:07:17

Apple’s New Memory Integrity Enforcement

Apple has introduced a new hardware/software security feature in the iPhone 17: “Memory Integrity Enforcement,” targeting the memory safety vulnerabilities that spyware products like Pegasus tend to use to get unauthorized system access. From Wired:

In recent years, a movement has been steadily growing across the global tech industry to address a ubiquitous and insidious type of bugs known as memory-safety vulnerabilities. A computer’s memory is a shared resource among all programs, and memory safety issues crop up when software can pull data that should be off limits from a computer’s memory or manipulate data in memory that shouldn’t be accessible to the program. When developers—­even experienced and security-conscious developers—­write software in ubiquitous, historic programming languages, like C and C++, it’s easy to make mistakes that lead to memory safety vulnerabilities. That’s why proactive tools like ...

From School of War at 2025-09-23 10:30:00

Ep 233: Mick Ryan on the Ukraine War’s Urgent Lessons (NEBM3141283130.mp3)

Major General Mick Ryan, Australian Army (retired), Senior Fellow for Military Studies the Lowy Institute and author of the Futura Doctrina substack, joins the show to discuss his latest piece, Translating Ukraine Lessons for the Pacific Theatre. ▪️ Times     •      01:40 Introduction     •      02:18 Translation      •      04:03 Ground forces             •      08:40 Australian defense      •      11:25 Threats from the North              •      13:25 Chinese influence               •      16:46 The mask slips           •      19:51 What we don’t know              •      24:36 The Pacific     •      32:18 Information ops            •      37:31 Corrosive influences             •      40:15 Mass Follow along on Instagram, X @schoolofwarpod, and YouTube @SchoolofWarPodcast Find a transcript of today’s episode on our School of War Substack

From Biz & IT – Ars Technica at 2025-09-22 18:54:33

Here’s how potent Atomic credential stealer is finding its way onto Macs

LastPass warns it's one of the latest to see its well-known brand impersonated.

From Schneier on Security at 2025-09-22 12:03:31

Details About Chinese Surveillance and Propaganda Companies

Details from leaked documents:

While people often look at China’s Great Firewall as a single, all-powerful government system unique to China, the actual process of developing and maintaining it works the same way as surveillance technology in the West. Geedge collaborates with academic institutions on research and development, adapts its business strategy to fit different clients’ needs, and even repurposes leftover infrastructure from its competitors.

[…]

The parallels with the West are hard to miss. A number of American surveillance and propaganda firms also started as academic projects before they were spun out into startups and grew by chasing government contracts. The difference is that in China, these companies operate with far less transparency. Their work comes to light only when a trove of documents slips onto the internet...

From The Rest Is History at 2025-09-22 00:05:00

602. Greek Myths: Zeus, King of the Gods (Part 1) (GLT4871750364.mp3?updated=1758288034)

What are the mythic origins of Zeus, King of the Olympians, and the other Greek gods? From what period did the earliest of the Greek myths derive? Who was Hesiod - alongside Homer, the greatest of the Greek poets, and the father of European literature - who first recorded Zeus’ story? When was the golden age of Greek myth? Who were the Titans, and why were they consigned to the fiery pit of Tartarus? Did different regions of Greece have different interpretations of the gods, and do these myths express something particular about ancient Greek culture? And, did people really believe in these famous stories of terrible gods, daring heroes, and great wars? Join Tom and Dominic as they plunge into the glorious, technicolour world of the Greek myths, starting with the tumultuous early life of Cronos, his son Zeus, the war between the gods and the Titans, and some of the most famous Greek heroes of all time - from Perseus to Hercules.  ______ Try Adobe Express for free now at https://www.adobe.com/uk/express/spotlight/designwithexpress?sdid=HM85WZZV&mv=display&mv2=ctv or by searching in the app store. LRB are offering six months access to their full archive for just £12, plus a free tote bag. Visit https://LRB.me/history Learn more at https://www.uber.com/onourway ______ Join The Rest Is History Club: Unlock the full experience of the show – with exclusive bonus episodes, ad-free listening, early access to every series and live show tickets, a members-only newsletter, discounted books from the show, and access to our private Discord chatroom. Sign up directly at therestishistory.com For more Goalhanger Podcasts, head to www.goalhanger.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From The Django weblog at 2025-09-21 06:00:00

Sarah Boyce - Maternity leave announcement

Hello Djangonauts,

At the end of this month, I'll be stepping away from my role as Django Fellow for some time while I'm on maternity leave.

During this period, I don't anticipate being active on Trac, in PR reviews, on the Forum, or on Discord. I would appreciate folks giving me space to settle in with my new baby.

Django will be well looked after by our Fellows, Natalia Bidart and Jacob Walls, who will continue supporting the project and community while I'm away.

I'm grateful to be part of such a wonderful community, and I look forward to returning after I have settled into this new chapter of my life. Thank you all for your support in keeping Django thriving.

Sarah Boyce

Django Fellow, mum-to-be

From More or Less: Behind the Stats at 2025-09-20 06:00:00

Is JD Vance right about left-wing violence? (p0m3vs7p.mp3)

On September the 10th 2025, right-wing political activist and media personality Charlie Kirk was assassinated while speaking at an event in Utah. In the aftermath, his friend JD Vance, the US Vice President, hosted a special memorial edition of ‘The Charlie Kirk Show’, live from the White House, during which he called for unity, but said that could only be found by “climbing the mountain of truth”.

“While our side of the aisle certainly has its crazies, it is a statistical fact that most of the lunatics in American politics today are proud members of the far left,” he said. We investigate the statistical evidence around political violence – both in people’s attitudes and the crimes themselves.

Presenter: Tim Harford Reporter: Lizzy McNeill Series producer: Tom Colls Sound mix: Hal Haines Editor: Richard Vadon

From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2025-09-20 00:30:45

Turning Points: Kyiv, Kirk, Kimmel, and the Sundance Kid | GoodFellows | Hoover Institution (GoodFellows_2025-09-19_Kyiv_podcast_8pcv1.mp3)

As a seemingly interminable conflict in Ukraine concludes its 43rd month of ground combat, aerial drone strikes, and stalemate, America’s culture war enters a new phase with the assassination of conservative activist and Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, followed by the suspension of late-night television host Jimmy Kimmel for an on-air comment made in the aftermath of Kirk’s murder. GoodFellows regulars Niall Ferguson, John Cochrane, and H.R. McMaster discuss the current state of affairs in Ukraine (Sir Niall fresh off a visit to Kyiv), Kirk’s murder as a watershed moment in a potential new cycle of political violence, plus whether America has reached a tipping point regarding free speech and government meddling for partisan benefit (our resident “grumpy economist” calling for the elimination of the Federal Communications Commission). Finally, a little sunshine (as in the Sundance Kid): the three fellows offering their favorite Robert Redford movies in honor of the recently deceased (and Scottish?) screen legend.  Subscribe to GoodFellows for clarity on today’s biggest social, economic, and geostrategic shifts — only on GoodFellows.

From Schneier on Security at 2025-09-19 22:06:15

Friday Squid Blogging: Giant Squid vs. Blue Whale

A comparison aimed at kids.

From Biz & IT – Ars Technica at 2025-09-19 20:35:38

Two of the Kremlin’s most active hack groups are collaborating, ESET says

Turla is getting a helping hand from Gamaredon. Both are units of Russia's FSB.

From A Collection of Unmitigated Pedantry at 2025-09-19 17:58:24

Fireside Friday, September 19, 2025 (On the Use and Abuse of Malthus)

Hey folks, Fireside this week! Next week we should be back to start looking at the other half of labor in the peasant household, everything that isn’t agriculture. Also, here are some cats: For this week’s musing, I want to address something that comes up frequently in the comments, particularly any time we discuss agriculture: … Continue reading Fireside Friday, September 19, 2025 (On the Use and Abuse of Malthus) →

From The Incomparable Mothership at 2025-09-19 17:00:00

784: Peak Harpoonist (da0300bd-dc1a-4993-a02b-4309cf44fdcf.mp3)

The Summer of Submarines reaches crush depth with Disney’s 1954 epic “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.” Captain Nemo of the Nautilus has met his match in an uncharismatic French professor, his strangely familiar associate, and their sidekick, a violent harpoonist and occasional cabaret performer. Also there’s a giant squid. Everyone remembers the giant squid—and for good reason!...

From Schneier on Security at 2025-09-19 12:01:02

Surveying the Global Spyware Market

The Atlantic Council has published its second annual report: “Mythical Beasts: Diving into the depths of the global spyware market.”

Too much good detail to summarize, but here are two items:

First, the authors found that the number of US-based investors in spyware has notably increased in the past year, when compared with the sample size of the spyware market captured in the first Mythical Beasts project. In the first edition, the United States was the second-largest investor in the spyware market, following Israel. In that edition, twelve investors were observed to be domiciled within the United States—­whereas in this second edition, twenty new US-based investors were observed investing in the spyware industry in 2024. This indicates a significant increase of US-based investments in spyware in 2024, catapulting the United States to being the largest investor in this sample of the spyware market. This is significant in scale, as US-based investment from 2023 to 2024 largely outpaced that of other major investing countries observed in the first dataset, including Italy, Israel, and the United Kingdom. It is also significant in the disparity it points to ­the visible enforcement gap between the flow of US dollars and US policy initiatives. Despite numerous US policy actions, such as the addition of spyware vendors on the ...

From School of War at 2025-09-19 10:30:00

Ep 232: Ran Baratz on the Gaza War and Israel’s ‘Postmodern’ Military (NEBM6341175340.mp3)

Ran Baratz, military historian and former senior Israeli official, and author of What's Wrong with the Postmodern Military?, joins the show to discuss operations in Gaza and problems with how the IDF officer corps thinks about war. ▪️ Times     •      01:37 Introduction     •      02:27 Gaza     •      06:23 Diplomatic obstacles             •      12:27 Worse than you think     •      15:28 Paradigm shift              •      30:23 Real wars              •      38:49 Art of the general            •      43:51 War as policy             •      50:00 Netanyahu Follow along on Instagram, X @schoolofwarpod, and YouTube @SchoolofWarPodcast Find a transcript of today’s episode on our School of War Substack

From Emperors of Rome at 2025-09-19 04:34:25

Paetus, It Does Not Hurt (250919-arria.mp3)

Arria, and her daughter of the same name, were celebrated in Roman literature for their virtues, piety, and devotion to family. Remembered above all for their willingness to embrace self-sacrifice, their lives and deaths became exemplars of courage and duty, cited by writers like Pliny and Martial as models of Roman virtue.

Episode CCXLVIII (248)

Guest: Assoc. Professor Rhiannon Evans (Classic and Ancient History, La Trobe University)

From Biz & IT – Ars Technica at 2025-09-19 01:00:37

Two UK teens charged in connection to Scattered Spider ransomware attacks

Ransomware group is one of the world's most prolific.

From Biz & IT – Ars Technica at 2025-09-18 17:29:22

New attack on ChatGPT research agent pilfers secrets from Gmail inboxes

Unlike most prompt injections, ShadowLeak executes on OpenAI's cloud-based infrastructure.

From Biz & IT – Ars Technica at 2025-09-18 15:31:22

How weak passwords and other failings led to catastrophic breach of Ascension

A deep-dive into Active Directory and how "Kerberoasting" breaks it wide open.

From Net Assessment at 2025-09-18 14:35:00

Is a Fight with Russia Worth the Risks? (Net_Assessment_-_18_Sept_2025_v2.mp3?dest-id=808287)

Chris, Zack, and Melanie take some time to talk about how the United States, Europe, and Russia are dealing with the Ukraine conflict. Would a Russian win in a war which is costing billions of dollars, killing hundreds of thousands of Russians, and reinforcing Moscow's junior partner status to China only be a pyrrhic victory? Does Russia hold a winning hand because it seems to be willing to take on greater risk than Europe and the United States? Was the passive American reaction to the Russian drone incursion into Poland a sign that the US is done providing security commitments to Europe? Have European governments reached a consensus on whether a sovereign Ukraine is worth a military fight with Russia?

Chris is impressed with how Utah Governor Spencer Cox has handled the complex politics following the murder of Charlie Kirk, Zack has an atta for a colleague’s Golden Dome cost calculator, and Melanie is disappointed that the West Point Association of Graduates has cancelled an event at which Tom Hanks was to be awarded the Sylvanus Thayer Award for his longtime dedication to promoting stories of American heroism and innovation and elevating the stories of American veterans.

Show Links:

• Robert Kagan, “The Beginning of the End of NATO,” The Atlantic, September 10, 2025.

• Franz-Stefan Gady, “The Russia-Ukraine War: Europe’s Delusions over Deterring Russia,” September 10, 2025.

• Jeremy Shapiro, “Russia is Losing the War—Just Not to Ukraine,” The Atlantic, September 10, 2025.

• Alexandra E. Petri, “West Point Alumni Group Cancels Award Honoring Tom Hanks,” New York Times, September 7, 2025.

• Mike Stone, “Trump to Reinterpret 1987 Missile Treaty to Sell Heavy Attack Drones Abroad,” Reuters, September 6, 2025.

• Charlie Edwards and Nate S, “The Scale of Russian Sabotage Operations Against Europe’s Critical Infrastructure,” IISS, August 19, 2025. 

• “Heroes and villains: Russia braces for eventual return of its enormous army,” Reuters, September 9, 2025.

• Joshua Rovner, Strategy and Grand Strategy, The Adelphi Series, International Institute for Strategic Studies, January 2025.

• McKay Coppins, “Trump Has a Warning for Spencer Cox,” The Atlantic, September 13, 2025.

• Todd Harrison, “Build Your Own Golden Dome: A Framework for Understanding Costs, Choices, and Tradeoffs,” American Enterprise Institute, September 12, 2025.

• US Policy Update on the Export of Unmanned Aerial Systems, State Department, September 15, 2025. 

From Schneier on Security at 2025-09-18 12:06:38

Time-of-Check Time-of-Use Attacks Against LLMs

This is a nice piece of research: “Mind the Gap: Time-of-Check to Time-of-Use Vulnerabilities in LLM-Enabled Agents“.:

Abstract: Large Language Model (LLM)-enabled agents are rapidly emerging across a wide range of applications, but their deployment introduces vulnerabilities with security implications. While prior work has examined prompt-based attacks (e.g., prompt injection) and data-oriented threats (e.g., data exfiltration), time-of-check to time-of-use (TOCTOU) remain largely unexplored in this context. TOCTOU arises when an agent validates external state (e.g., a file or API response) that is later modified before use, enabling practical attacks such as malicious configuration swaps or payload injection. In this work, we present the first study of TOCTOU vulnerabilities in LLM-enabled agents. We introduce TOCTOU-Bench, a benchmark with 66 realistic user tasks designed to evaluate this class of vulnerabilities. As countermeasures, we adapt detection and mitigation techniques from systems security to this setting and propose prompt rewriting, state integrity monitoring, and tool-fusing. Our study highlights challenges unique to agentic workflows, where we achieve up to 25% detection accuracy using automated detection methods, a 3% decrease in vulnerable plan generation, and a 95% reduction in the attack window. When combining all three approaches, we reduce the TOCTOU vulnerabilities from an executed trajectory from 12% to 8%. Our findings open a new research direction at the intersection of AI safety and systems security...

From Strong Message Here at 2025-09-18 09:45:00

Phase 2 (p0m3b1n5.mp3)

In the first episode of the new series, Armando Iannucci and guest co-host, Ria Lina look at the use and abuse of political language.

The political summer is often called 'silly season', but with global conflict and rising tensions at home, Armando and Ria look at the language that defined recent months including Keir Starmer's "Phase 2" and the word "plastic".

Armando’s erstwhile partner in de-baffling political lexicon, Helen Lewis is away working in the United States in the Autumn and so her seat will be kept warm by a rotating cast of co-hosts.

Got a question for Armando? Email us at strongmessagehere@bbc.co.uk

Listen to Strong Message Here on Radio 4 at 9:45, and an extended version is available on BBC Sounds.

Recorded at The Sound Company Production Coordinator: Caroline Barlow Sound editing by Chris Maclean Executive Producer: Richard Morris

Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios Production for Radio 4.

From The Rest Is History at 2025-09-18 00:05:00

601. Scandal in the White House (GLT1369800109.mp3?updated=1758146111)

Who was Grover Cleveland, and why is he one of the most controversial American Presidents of all time? Why was the run up to his first term, in 1884 at the height of the Gilded Age, so pivotal to American politics? How did he rocket to the heights of political power? What dark secrets began swirling about his disreputable past, and character? Did he really seduce a young widow by the name of Maria Crofts Halpin, impregnate her, and then lock her in a mental asylum? What became of their alleged child? And, how did this shocking scandal unfold?  Join Dominic and Tom as they investigate one of the most lurid stories in all American political history - a tale of lust, lies, deviance and kidnapping, but also immense political significance. What is the truth behind this mystery? ______ Try Adobe Express for free now at https://www.adobe.com/uk/express/spotlight/designwithexpress?sdid=HM85WZZV&mv=display&mv2=ctv or by searching in the app store. Learn more at https://uber.com/onourway Visit theweek.com/rest and enter code HISTORY to claim your six-week free trial, plus an extra 10% saving on all subscription packages ______ Join The Rest Is History Club: Unlock the full experience of the show – with exclusive bonus episodes, ad-free listening, early access to every series and live show tickets, a members-only newsletter, discounted books from the show, and access to our private Discord chatroom. Sign up directly at therestishistory.com For more Goalhanger Podcasts, head to www.goalhanger.com _______ Twitter: @TheRestHistory @holland_tom @dcsandbrook Producer: Theo Young-Smith Assistant Producer: Tabby Syrett + Aaliyah Akude  Video Producer: Jack Meek Social Producer: Harry Balden Executive Producers: Jack Davenport + Tony Pastor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From Biz & IT – Ars Technica at 2025-09-17 23:03:11

White House officials reportedly frustrated by Anthropic’s law enforcement AI limits

Officials say Claude chatbot usage policies block FBI, Secret Service contractors' work.

From The Media Show at 2025-09-17 18:09:00

Guto Harri, James O Brien, Isabel Oakeshott on the Unite the Kingdom rally and the Charlie Kirk Shooting, Tim Davie (p0m3dtzp.mp3)

Katie Razzall speaks to the Director General of the BBC Tim Davie at the Royal Television Society Festival. Ros Atkins discusses the language used by the media to discuss the Unite the Kingdom rally and the shooting of Charlie Kirk with studio guests Guto Harri, James O Brien and Isabel Oakeshott.

Producer: Lisa Jenkinson Assistant Producer: Lucy Wai

From Schneier on Security at 2025-09-17 12:05:59

Hacking Electronic Safes

Vulnerabilities in electronic safes that use Securam Prologic locks:

While both their techniques represent glaring security vulnerabilities, Omo says it’s the one that exploits a feature intended as a legitimate unlock method for locksmiths that’s the more widespread and dangerous. “This attack is something where, if you had a safe with this kind of lock, I could literally pull up the code right now with no specialized hardware, nothing,” Omo says. “All of a sudden, based on our testing, it seems like people can get into almost any Securam Prologic lock in the world.”...

From The Django weblog at 2025-09-17 12:00:00

Django 6.0 alpha 1 released

Django 6.0 alpha 1 is now available. It represents the first stage in the 6.0 release cycle and is an opportunity to try out the changes coming in Django 6.0.

Django 6.0 assembles a mosaic of modern tools and thoughtful design, which you can read about in the in-development 6.0 release notes.

This alpha milestone marks the feature freeze. The current release schedule calls for a beta release in about a month and a release candidate roughly a month after that. We'll only be able to keep this schedule with early and frequent testing from the community. Updates on the release schedule are available on the Django forum.

As with all alpha and beta packages, this release is not for production use. However, if you'd like to take some of the new features for a spin, or help find and fix bugs (which should be reported to the issue tracker), you can grab a copy of the alpha package from our downloads page or on PyPI.

The PGP key ID used for this release is Natalia Bidart: 2EE82A8D9470983E

From More or Less: Behind the Stats at 2025-09-17 09:30:00

Is it true that out-of-work benefits have almost doubled? (p0m35yxb.mp3)

Tim Harford investigates some of the numbers in the news. This week:

Nigel Farage says 6.5 million people are on out-of-work benefits – with some benefits up 80% since 2018. Are those numbers right?

Do French pensioners really earn more than their working-age compatriots?

How is it possible for one kilogram of fish food to produce one kilogram of salmon?

And do we really have five senses?

If you’ve seen a number you think we should take a look at, email the team: moreorless@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Tim Harford Reporter: Lizzy McNeill Producer: Nicholas Barrett Series producer: Tom Colls Production co-ordinator: Maria Ogundele Sound mix: Neil Churchill Editor: Richard Vadon

From Quite right! at 2025-09-17 00:01:00

Why Danny Kruger's defection changes everything & could Boris Johnson be next? (media.mp3?tk=eyJ0ayI6ImRlZmF1bHQiLCJhZHMiOnRydWUsInNwb25zIjp0cnVlLCJzdGF0dXMiOiJwdWJsaWMifQ==&sig=n7qn63_MrdpY96vGLG8EJpJ8NPw1Q--_mr14ephRkpc)

This week Michael and Madeline unpick the shock defection of Danny Kruger to Reform UK’s ‘pirate ship’ – as described by Michael – and ask whether this coup could mark the beginning of the end for the Conservative party.

They also dive into Westminster’s most charged moral debates: the assisted dying bill in the Lords and the quiet decriminalisation of abortion up to birth. What do these changes say about parliament’s ‘intoxicated liberal hubris’ – and the protections given to the vulnerable?

Also, Donald Trump lands in Britain this week – but why is it that the Prime Minister acts ‘like Carson the butler’ in his presence, and who exactly is the ‘diplomatic secret weapon’ that the Palace deploys to manage ‘the Donald’?

Finally, Michael and Madeleine (re)turn to Oxford, where the Union has been engulfed in controversy over free speech and political violence. Has one of Britain’s oldest debating societies become a cautionary tale for our universities? Is there such a thing as ‘right-wing cancel culture’?

Produced by Oscar Edmondson, Oscar Bicket and Matt Miszczak.

Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.

For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts.

Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From Biz & IT – Ars Technica at 2025-09-16 21:09:22

ChatGPT may soon require ID verification from adults, CEO says

Chatbot will "default to the under-18 experience" when age is uncertain after teen suicide lawsuit.

From Biz & IT – Ars Technica at 2025-09-16 12:15:32

Millions turn to AI chatbots for spiritual guidance and confession

Bible Chat hits 30 million downloads as users seek algorithmic absolution.

From Schneier on Security at 2025-09-16 12:06:44

Microsoft Still Uses RC4

Senator Ron Wyden has asked the Federal Trade Commission to investigate Microsoft over its continued use of the RC4 encryption algorithm. The letter talks about a hacker technique called Kerberoasting, that exploits the Kerberos authentication system.

From School of War at 2025-09-16 10:45:00

Ep 231: Peter Rough on Russian Drone Incursions into NATO (NEBM5061316081.mp3)

Peter Rough, senior fellow and director of the Center on Europe and Eurasia at the Hudson Institute, joins the show to discuss the recent Russian drone incursions in Poland and Romania and what they mean. ▪️ Times     •      01:08 Introduction     •      01:35 What actually happened?     •      05:30 Destructive decoys             •      07:27 European moods     •      11:23 Rightwing response              •      16:32 Strategic autonomy              •      23:52 Zapad           •      30:00 On/off switch             •      33:31 Where do we stand?    Follow along on Instagram, X @schoolofwarpod, and YouTube @SchoolofWarPodcast Find a transcript of today’s episode on our School of War Substack

From Schneier on Security at 2025-09-15 12:05:45

Lawsuit About WhatsApp Security

Attaullah Baig, WhatsApp’s former head of security, has filed a whistleblower lawsuit alleging that Facebook deliberately failed to fix a bunch of security flaws, in violation of its 2019 settlement agreement with the Federal Trade Commission.

The lawsuit, alleging violations of the whistleblower protection provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act passed in 2002, said that in 2022, roughly 100,000 WhatsApp users had their accounts hacked every day. By last year, the complaint alleged, as many as 400,000 WhatsApp users were getting locked out of their accounts each day as a result of such account takeovers...

From The Rest Is History at 2025-09-15 00:05:00

600. CHATHAM HIGH STREET (GLT2782191075.mp3?updated=1757879738)

Why is Chatham High-street both futuristic and riddled with the past? Why was it a magnet for historical figures such as King John, Charles II, Nelson and Charles Dickens, and the location for some of the most totemic moments in British history? Is it really a melting pot of every epoch - from the Roman invasion of Britain, to the Napoleonic Wars, and to the Second World War - and therefore the most historically significant high-street in the world?  ______ Try Adobe Express for free now at https://www.adobe.com/uk/express/spotlight/designwithexpress or by searching in the app store. Learn more at https://uber.com/onourway Explore the world’s most loved stories in their most beautiful form - only at https://www.foliosociety.com/. ______ The Rest Is History Club: Become a member for exclusive bonus content, early access to full series and live show tickets, ad-free listening, our exclusive newsletter, discount book prices on titles mentioned on the pod, and our members’ chatroom on Discord. Just head to therestishistory.com to sign up, or start a free trial today on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/therestishistory. For more Goalhanger Podcasts, head to www.goalhanger.com _______ Twitter: @TheRestHistory @holland_tom @dcsandbrook Producer: Theo Young-Smith Assistant Producers: Tabby Syrett + Aaliyah Akude Video Producers: Harry Swan + Jack Meek + Charlie Rodwell Social Producer: Harry Balden Executive Producers: Jack Davenport + Tony Pastor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From Schneier on Security at 2025-09-14 17:02:45

Upcoming Speaking Engagements

This is a current list of where and when I am scheduled to speak:

• I’m speaking and signing books at the Cambridge Public Library on October 22, 2025 at 6 PM ET. The event is sponsored by Harvard Bookstore.
• I’m giving a virtual talk about my book Rewiring Democracy at 1 PM ET on October 23, 2025. The event is hosted by Data & Society. More details to come.
• I’m speaking at the World Forum for Democracy in Strasbourg, France, November 5-7, 2025.
• I’m speaking and signing books at the University of Toronto Bookstore in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on November 14, 2025. Details to come...

From The History Book Buffs at 2025-09-14 16:42:50

Tunisgrad. Was this the battle that changed the course of WW2? (https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2025-8-14%2F407462035-44100-2-c7d44d51280a5.mp3)

In this episode of "History Book Buffs," hosts Antonia and Roger delve into the often-overlooked Tunisian campaign of World War II, as detailed in Saul David's compelling book, "Tunisgrad." Join them as they explore the strategic significance of this campaign, its impact on the Axis powers, and the fascinating dynamics between key historical figures like Churchill, Stalin, and Mussolini. With a mix of historical insights and engaging discussions, this episode sheds light on a pivotal moment in history that shaped the course of the war. Tune in for an enlightening journey through the sands of North Africa.