Millennial optimism, and are we in 1984?

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 linkshttps://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=20https://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=20Anakinposting links:https://bsky.app/profile/zakiscorner.bsky.social/post/3myx7dt3jwk2lhttps://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 ReadeProduced by Matt WithersGet 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 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 itTen second in is superbI physically felt this oneThere’s an interesting take from our colleague on thisIs it just depression?Presented by James Ball and Lucy ReadeProduced by Matt WithersGet 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 ReadeProduced by Matt WithersGet 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 ReadeProduced by Matt WithersGet 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 beginsArt of PlaySolidarity with KellyAnti KellyThe shop tried to explainThe mood turns!Kelly with the comeback!And now we’re going full OSINT on this thing ChatGPT:Original post Tiktok making funIn her defence... Presented by James Ball and Lucy ReadeProduced by Matt WithersGet 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=20Elon links:Elon and the right to voteElon on stealth tech / and again (rebuttal)Politico articleVerge articleBreakup textsPresented by James Ball and Lucy ReadeProduced 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=46https://x.com/lilithblack25/status/2102442825409298911?s=46https://x.com/Igi_POLCOM/status/2103291436691030459?s=20https://x.com/roadto80pct/status/2102830745467408826?s=20Presented by James Ball and Lucy ReadeProduced by Matt WithersOFFER: 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=20https://x.com/shipsposting/status/2102037310913098013?s=20Hustle culture:https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005012927775589.htmlhttps://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 ReadeProduced by Matt WithersOFFER: 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 James Ball inflicts upon us a strange cocktail of Aella, AI doomerism and Harry Potter fanfiction. Meanwhile, Lucy Reade discusses why BookTok has changed how people read and… also gets on to the topic of Harry Potter fanfiction.Warning: this episode contains material of an adult nature!Aella:https://x.com/Aella_Girl/status/1763383809284731208 https://bsky.app/profile/bluser12.bsky.social/post/3mv4z6ycoks2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/stejormur.bsky.social/post/3mvdjiy32pc24Books:https://x.com/bookslattess/status/2096580249232269563?s=20 https://x.com/diatribadism/status/2097211649073545583?s=20https://x.com/stargirlBaird/status/2097316740749234649?s=20https://x.com/hexprax/status/2097192722767700087?s=20https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGdQy1X5A/Presented by James Ball and Lucy ReadeProduced by Matt WithersOFFER: 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 discusses the tragic case of Lindsey Clancy and the horrendous internet reactions it has spawned on all sides of the debate. James Ball, meanwhile, asks the age-old question: are GLP-1 drugs are inherently fascist?Lindsey Clancy:https://www.tiktok.com/@truecrime_central/video/7668324431713864991?q=lindsey%20clancy%20husband%20conspiracy&t=1788852477246https://www.tiktok.com/@sisters.uncensored/video/7673872121063394574?q=lindsey%20clancy%20husband%20conspiracy&t=1788852477246https://x.com/NickJFreitas/status/2094843531718262973?s=20 https://x.com/MattWalshBlog/status/2095963187422056854?s=20 https://x.com/DeepBlueCrypto/status/2095500027166699983?s=20https://x.com/Bdubs1776/status/2096958652976365815?s=20 https://x.com/CGroyper12400/status/2095904656396337548?s=20GLP-1s:https://x.com/thestustustudio/status/2096379112093016241 https://x.com/kane/status/2096836146802085966?s=46 https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/aug/20/john-goodman-weight-loss-drugs-ozempic-fat-people-cannot-win Presented by James Ball and Lucy ReadeProduced by Matt WithersSubscribe to The New World for just £5 for five weeks here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.