Welcome to Touching Grass, where two extremely online people attempt to explain internet discourse to people sensible enough to spend their time offline. This week, Lucy Reade and James Ball discuss how the online world has reacted to the US Midterm results. The Democrats have revelled in their victory, declaring that Woke 3.0 shall be installed, whereas the Republicans are drowning their sorrows while pretending they’re in Star Wars.

Woke 3.0 links

https://x.com/sapphodii/status/2119847542091551022?a=Lme8lHN8CPOBfWE5oqc&s=46

https://x.com/jerrybaglover/status/2118070214130913314?a=S-h-X_2q3YLuc0IDGB8&s=20

https://x.com/vmonshope/status/2117856776926171274?a=eLxRGVgjGIcKHb63w_A&s=20

https://x.com/mfcbish/status/2119053894684672154?a=xZPt8-wvNrfWneVwJWQ&s=20

https://x.com/jocelynseip/status/2118260591680983528?a=Oo9Eln9dDEsQhCc1rXc&s=20

https://x.com/lunaloonies/status/2118106445606699236?a=yWDJat8OgivEf5JHTbY&s=20

Anakinposting links:

https://bsky.app/profile/zakiscorner.bsky.social/post/3myx7dt3jwk2l

https://x.com/usedgov/status/2116192924710941130

https://x.com/minordissent/status/2116622484233752629

https://x.com/SlainByTheWire/status/2116646608662393082

https://x.com/dream_in_sanity/status/2118470890812006678?s=12

https://x.com/elonmusk/status/2116990933103509723

https://x.com/gremlinfoid/status/2117492470556602496

https://bsky.app/profile/zakiscorner.bsky.social/post/3myx7dt3jwk2l

Presented by James Ball and Lucy Reade

Produced by Matt Withers

Get a FREE SIGNED COPY of Alastair Campbell's new book when you subscribe to The New World. Go to https://www.thenewworld.co.uk/subscribe/

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Welcome to Touching Grass, where two extremely online people attempt to explain internet discourse to people sensible enough to spend their time offline. This week, Lucy Reade and James Ball discuss this year’s hottest Halloween costume: the Millennial. Also, is the UK’s ban on certain types of pornography literally 1984?

Links: Are we in 1984?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cmpqgepejr2ro

https://x.com/GrumpyTechBro/status/2116324884276212058?a=pMuzY_pETsF8-wzblME&s=20

https://x.com/oregonwoman/status/2115470615247573017?a=TmnDb22X18nOygWAaGk&s=20

https://x.com/sc0rpionom/status/2111199518054027424?a=PNJMwBrVqExVr2xCS0c&s=20

https://x.com/Spoopy_Potatoes/status/2115841087042453751?a=z02r7v3Fcz7EtXfcRJQ&s=20

https://x.com/JcKh_/status/2116089608857686031?a=hh3SuD37XRlOG2e0nQY&s=20

https://x.com/scarlet_rush/status/2115941458410709031?a=P3zPRcTQ7gpWDhx-T6A&s=20

https://x.com/ducktelevision/status/2115933905325047847?a=oTJnf3wbyTqkQoyglZk&s=20

Millennial optimism:

The video that started it

Ten second in is superb

I physically felt this one

There’s an interesting take from our colleague on this

Is it just depression?

Presented by James Ball and Lucy Reade

Produced by Matt Withers

Get a FREE SIGNED COPY of Alastair Campbell's new book when you subscribe to The New World. Go to https://www.thenewworld.co.uk/subscribe/

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

Welcome to Touching Grass, where two extremely online people attempt to explain internet discourse to people sensible enough to spend their time offline. This week’s Very Special Episode focuses on Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes. James Ball explains to Lucy Reade the real story behind the fraudulent startup, whilst Lucy delves into how the new documentary You Can See Everything has given Holmes a public image rehabilitation.

Clips/posts mentioned:

https://youtu.be/GrT0jKOhnD4?si=1Fw0XHBWdztlPTpt&t=15

https://x.com/Polymarket/status/2114478349020221894?s=20

https://x.com/balkanchav/status/2112649169605448154?s=20

https://x.com/jetpackjexy/status/2114523873710584046?s=20

https://x.com/powerswitchhh/status/2111835275366457827?s=20

https://x.com/cartoonghost17/status/2113712990877073692?s=20

https://x.com/maddyferg/status/2112055022028783785?s=20

https://x.com/djschlagenheim/status/2114075489531031860?s=20

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZN8DdsX3R/

https://x.com/malikules/status/2114350089972142185?s=20

https://www.tiktok.com/@tedteddytheodore/video/7698801620649315597?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7631514080352765462

https://www.tiktok.com/@angeltwink404/video/7699945843260017934?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7631514080352765462

https://x.com/jennifer_zilla/status/2113146120717132031?s=20

Presented by James Ball and Lucy Reade

Produced by Matt Withers

Get a FREE SIGNED COPY of Alastair Campbell's new book when you subscribe to The New World. Go to https://www.thenewworld.co.uk/subscribe/

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

Welcome to Touching Grass, where two extremely online people attempt to explain internet discourse to people sensible enough to spend their time offline. This week, Lucy Reade reluctantly explains why so many right wing incels are now writing their own Harry Potter fanfictions. Meanwhile, James Ball brings us part two of the Kelly Clarkson mechanical bird saga. We are serious journalists.

The 2012 tumblrgirlification of the right:

https://x.com/robrousseau/status/2112226711932633173?s=20

https://x.com/ThatchEffendi/status/2112253253333446703?s=20

https://x.com/BadWritingTakes/status/2108261674163585155?s=20

https://x.com/makooor/status/2109480540328038550?s=20

https://x.com/logosoverflow/status/2112257859732090923?s=20

https://x.com/freeborn_wolf/status/2110908338578055170?s=20

https://x.com/feyriswheel/status/2112085955607695638?s=20

https://x.com/instain_mother/status/2112005855969484930?s=20

2 Kelly 2 Furious:

https://x.com/JonPaula/status/2110370590213423407?s=20 https://x.com/cutelipssx/status/2110402553636626789

https://x.com/popcrave/status/2110183559353057771?s=46

https://x.com/tommyhawkins/status/2110156221432946701?s=46

https://blisskolb.com/

https://x.com/redhotnerd/status/2110856628295647610?s=20

Presented by James Ball and Lucy Reade

Produced by Matt Withers

Get a FREE SIGNED COPY of Alastair Campbell's new book when you subscribe to The New World. Go to https://www.thenewworld.co.uk/subscribe/

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

Welcome to Touching Grass, where two extremely online people attempt to explain internet discourse to people sensible enough to spend their time offline. This week, James Ball takes us through all the twists and turns of the latest online drama: Kelly Clarkson getting Pretty-Womaned at a magic shop. Meanwhile, Lucy Reade asks whether using ChatGPT to answer all your questions is the wisest move…

Kelly Clarkson-gate:

The story begins

Art of Play

Solidarity with Kelly

Anti Kelly

The shop tried to explain

The mood turns!

Kelly with the comeback!

And now we’re going full OSINT on this thing

ChatGPT:

Original post

Tiktok making fun

In her defence...

Presented by James Ball and Lucy Reade

Produced by Matt Withers

Get a FREE SIGNED COPY of Alastair Campbell's new book when you subscribe to The New World. Go to https://www.thenewworld.co.uk/subscribe/

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

Welcome to Touching Grass, where two extremely online people attempt to explain internet discourse to people sensible enough to spend their time offline. This week, Lucy and James discuss the Green Party’s motion declaring that Zionism equals racism, as well as catching up on the latest Elon Musk drama.

Zionism:

https://x.com/EtanSmallman/status/2107059923771072911?s=20

https://x.com/anne_hegerty/status/2106789742230872375?s=20

https://x.com/MrTCHarris/status/2107081257452781780?s=20

Elon links:

Elon and the right to vote

Elon on stealth tech / and again (rebuttal)

Politico article

Verge article

Breakup texts

Presented by James Ball and Lucy Reade

Produced by Ruby Mitchell

OFFER: Get The New World for just £1 for your first month here

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

Welcome to Touching Grass, where two extremely online people attempt to explain internet discourse to people sensible enough to spend their time offline. This week James Ball takes us through the online right’s reaction to the Fairford 5 and its descent into madness, and Lucy Reade unpacks how a KFC advert has prompted accusations of cannibalism.

KFC/Conspiracy theories:

https://x.com/_truthzone_/status/2101834492793016780?s=46

https://x.com/lilithblack25/status/2102442825409298911?s=46

https://x.com/Igi_POLCOM/status/2103291436691030459?s=20

https://x.com/roadto80pct/status/2102830745467408826?s=20

Presented by James Ball and Lucy Reade

Produced by Matt Withers

OFFER: Subscribe to The New World and get a free copy of Paul Mason's new book Reds. Head to https://www.thenewworld.co.uk/subscribe/

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

Welcome to Touching Grass, where two extremely online people attempt to explain internet discourse to people sensible enough to spend their time offline. This week Lucy Reade unpacks the latest Gen Z discourse: is it unprofessional to drink iced coffee in a job interview? And James Ball asks whether internet hustle culture is getting out of hand…

Gen Z iced coffee:

https://www.tiktok.com/@hopeyoufindyourdad/video/7688085006572326157?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7629351219308676630 (first 20 seconds)

https://x.com/CuriousBunnie12/status/2102147885995278440?s=20

https://x.com/4LeafOddity/status/2101781791707398502?s=20

https://x.com/chloeevansj/status/2102218640254722133?s=20

https://x.com/chrryboyhunter/status/2101121452992876739?s=20

https://x.com/shipsposting/status/2102037310913098013?s=20

Hustle culture:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005012927775589.html

https://www.thegoldbullion.co.uk/buy-gold-bars/credit-suisse-gold-bars/credit-suisse-1-oz-gold-bar/

https://www.tiktok.com/@abbysellsss/video/7668217142084390157

https://www.sellmeapen.net/

Presented by James Ball and Lucy Reade

Produced by Matt Withers

OFFER: Subscribe to The New World and get a free copy of Paul Mason's new book Reds. Head to https://www.thenewworld.co.uk/subscribe/

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