Editor-in-chief of @semafor. Former @nytimes media columnist, @buzzfeednews EIC. "Traffic." [email protected], Signal semaforben.90
Brooklyn, NY
Joined October 2007
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- Following4.2K
- Followers319K
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Ben Smith retweeted
The original conceit of "Libs of TikTok" was that she was a normie stand-in just reposting lefty excesses and boy did that ship sail a long time ago
Ben Smith retweeted
NEW: We obtained conversational AI robocalls from a Musk-backed PAC targeting James Talarico in Texas. The AI calls attack him in part over… data centers. Talarico’s campaign tells us Paxton’s “only volunteers” willing to call voters are “AI robots.”
cnn.com/2026/10/29/politics/…
Ben Smith retweeted
New big turn in our Singapore chip-smuggling investigations: U.S. officials believe the mysterious business woman seen with Jensen Huang in Taiwan in recent years is a Chinese intelligence asset. Pres. Trump was briefed but took no action. nytimes.com/2026/10/29/us/po…
Ben Smith retweeted
Election Results Update
Approximately 92.7% of the votes have been counted.
Election Results (Seats):
- Likud – 26
- Yashar – 21
- Joint List – 12 (+1)
- Beyachad (Together) – 12
- The Democrats – 8
- Ra’am – 7 (-1)
- Yisrael Beiteinu – 7
- United Torah Judaism – 7
- Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) – 7
- Shas – 7
- Religious Zionism and Zehut – 6
**Parties Below the Electoral Threshold:**
- The Reservists and the Economic Party – 2.65%
- Amcha Yisrael – 1.62%
**Breakdown by Political Blocs:**
- Current Coalition – 53 seats
- Change Bloc – 48 seats
- Joint List – 12 seats
- Ra’am – 7 seats
Ben Smith retweeted
UK AISI is such a fascinating institution because more than any other effort of its kind it appears poised to become like the Delaware Court of Chancery: a phenomenally powerful institution resident in an otherwise unremarkable jurisdiction
NEW from me: Britain’s AI testing agency outguns US
Britain wants to pour another £120 million — roughly $160 million — into a government lab that tests the world’s most powerful AI models, an infusion of cash that alone is more than 10 times the annual budget of its US counterpart.
It contrasts sharply with the approach in the US, where federal efforts to evaluate AI are receiving far less cash and are shared by different parts of government.
semafor.com/article/10/27/20…
Ben Smith retweeted
"It is a genuinely uncertain question..."
@NateSilver538 joins @maxwelltani and @semaforben on the next episode of Mixed Signals from Semafor Media to talk midterms.
Watch this Friday on YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Ben Smith retweeted
Like the exiled Vietnamese royal family setting up in Paris after Uncle Ho no longer needed their services - but w better Publix options
"Just after 9:30 a.m., Mr. Bolsonaro could be seen leaving a plane at a private airport outside Miami along with his family, according to news media video footage. The group was ushered into an S.U.V. shortly after exiting the airport, hidden under umbrellas.
Ben Smith retweeted
SCOOP @semafor: Some BP board members favor breakup, CEO Meg O’Neill seen as opposed — sources. $BP
semafor.com/article/10/28/20…
Even the All-In guys seem to have given up on "super intelligence"
@jdcapelouto
Ben Smith retweeted
CPJ condemns the conviction of Lina Attalah, editor-in-chief of the independent Egyptian news outlet @MadaMasr, on charges of running an unlicensed website. We call on Egyptian authorities to reverse the ruling, release the journalist immediately, and end their escalating campaign against independent journalism.
Read CPJ's statement ⤵️
cpj.org/2026/10/cpj-outraged…
Ben Smith retweeted
SCOOP: Democrats have insisted they have nothing to do with the other Dan Sullivan on Alaska's Senate ballot.
But aides with the Mary Peltola campaign and DSCC were part of a monthslong secret plan to recruit him to run -- as well as other candidates.
nytimes.com/2026/10/28/us/po…
Ben Smith retweeted
Putin says Russia is in “close contact” with “brilliant” @elonmusk about not “interfering with the each other” in orbit and keeping “discipline and order.”
This after Musk said Russia could attack his satellites amid controversy over his decision to limit the service to Ukraine
Илон Маск — гениальный человек, Россия в контакте с ним, заявил Путин:
vk.cc/d3lCeY
Видео: Раптли/ТАСС
Ben Smith retweeted
gym bros now subject to geopolitical fragmentation.
‘global macro’ has an entirely new meaning..
Domestic protein supply is becoming an effective lever for governments to flex their muscles.
Control of production capacity and exports is emerging as a tool of global soft power. State intervention in protein production is increasing and will intensify heading into 2027.
A look at key protein policy interventions in 2026 ⬇️
Britain making a play to be the ... Brussels of AI regulation?
@ashleyrgold
semafor.com/article/10/27/20…
Ben Smith retweeted
72% of voters say they’ve seen “the ad.” Seven voters flipped from VR to Acton, just one from Acton to VR.
Suffolk poll | 10/21-10/26 LV
Ohio Governor 2026
🟦Amy Acton 48%
🟥Vivek Ramaswamy 44%
Link to poll: newarkadvocate.com/story/new…
Ben Smith retweeted
Don’t shoot the messenger, but the correction still points out that he randomly accused the Conservative Party chairman of trying to kill him.
That’s some odd behavior for someone seeking higher office, no?
STATEMENT ON FORMAL CORRECTION BY NY TIMES
The NY Times wrote a defamatory story about me to help Blake Gendebien and has now been forced to issue a formal correction. Dishonest, malacious media are a serious problem in America. I don't know why, but they lie to hurt their own country. President Trump calls them FAKE NEWS, but if their behavior doesn't improve I am going to instead call them EVIL NEWS.
Ben Smith retweeted
NEW: Life magazine is coming back, with its first quarterly print issue out next month. I spoke with the team behind it nytimes.com/2026/10/28/busin…
Ben Smith retweeted
Weil‘s imminent collapse is freaking out Big Law — a problem largely of their own creation. What is the solution? Perhaps they need to take some cues from their banking brethren. @semafor
semafor.com/article/10/28/20…
