For the FT Magazine, I spent the past year following the Enhanced Games, a Peter Thiel and Trump Jr.-backed "steroid Olympics", and the strange coalition that's developed around the prospect of commercialised doping.

Visited a bunch of vape shops and did some digging into the disposable ban w/ @marinoevik.@clara__murray @mauipippa @dariamslv .

For today's FT News Briefing podcast I interviewed UNICEF's James Elder, who's just returned from Gaza, about the enclave's aid distribution sites. He told me extreme water scarcity was becoming an issue, on top of daily violence at the aid sites.

God I love a good rat stat delivered by a rodent expert.

An indictment of British magazine writing.

Went on Australian late night radio to talk about the ideas and the money behind the Enhanced Games: Effective Accelerationism, concierge healthcare for the ultra-wealthy, and critiques of International anti-doping regulation.

Spent a week tallying up London festival days – which have seen a cumulative increase of more than 60% since 2022. Also looked into the council funding situation and the controversies over the commercialisation of the city's parks. New w/ @clara__murray .

RT @anjahuja: In the light of Las Vegas, the (fairly unsettling) piece you need to read, by @JoshGD , in @FTMag , about how it started. T….

Some developments from the Enhanced Games (the "steroid Olympics" backed by Peter Thiel): organisers have set a date for the inaugural games, which will take place at a casino in Las Vegas. Also broke a world record + launched a supplement line. Free link.

Protect Brockwell Park - the residents group that brought a legal challenge against Lambeth council - not very happy with the fact the festivals are going forward despite Friday’s high court judgement. More soon.

RT @LucyGJWhite: For the last year, I’ve been working on an investigation that’s left me staggered. It’s a damning indictment of the UK’s c….

Brockwell Live (group behind Wide Awake, Mighty Hoopla, Field Day etc) confirming that festivals at the park are going ahead. Lambeth Council saying that a new application has been submitted after the High Court decision. Wrote about the case on Friday:

Recession indicator: lots of stick n poke tattoo artists posting on Instagram at the moment with weekend appointment slots they're trying to fill.

Choice quote from the cheating article.

Wrote about the London mayor's nightlife pilot and the Labour government's licensing review.

Latest Tech Tonic episode looks at Israel's AI targeting tools being used in Gaza, "fully autonomous borders" and the future of defence tech. Presented by @johnthornhillft .

Went to Birmingham to report on the bin strike - it's an interesting story of what happens when strained local government finances start to take a toll on a city, leading to industrial action and serious reductions in public services.

London's councils (which operate the majority of CCTV cameras) have been increasing their spending on video surveillance and new AI-enabled cameras. Backdrop is concerns over antisocial behaviour and shoplifting. Local govt see CCTV as a winning issue.

RT @FT: At the Enhanced Games, performance-boosting drugs are not only allowed, they're encouraged

RT @CordeliaJ: This is such a great piece, full of bizarre details and improbable philosophical contortions. I highly recommend it! https:/….