Sign in

Pepper Culpepper

@pculpepper.bsky.social
1.6K followers 371 following 381 posts

Professor of Government & Public Policy, Oxford; Billionaire Backlash: The Age of Corporate Scandal and How It Could Save Democracy (on FT's What to Read in 2026; linktr.ee/billionairebacklash); www.pepperculpepper.net

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by Pepper Culpepper
Claes de Vreese @claesdevreese.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
AI companies, not agents go rogue. AI companies produce models and services. AI companies are responsible for their own products. www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
theguardian.com
OpenAI halts training of latest models as reports mount of AI agents going rogue
Decision follows disclosures that OpenAI agents searching government websites had acted in unexpected ways
42613
Pepper Culpepper @pculpepper.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Are there questions that make you dumb enough to be disqualified as a serious pollster?
030
Pepper Culpepper @pculpepper.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Enjoyed talking to John Torpey on the International Horizons podcast about public opinion and its relation to the climactic scene from the movie Network: “I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore”.
newbooksnetwork.com
Billionaire Backlash - New Books Network
031
Pepper Culpepper @pculpepper.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
It was good to chat with Chris Caurla from @deutschewelle.dw.com about whether the tide is turning on billionaires and big corporations in politics. A lot of different opinions in the comments.
youtube.com
Is the tide turning on billionaires? | DW News
YouTube video by DW News
042
Reposted by Pepper Culpepper
tbluvoter❌👑 @tbluvoter.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
We need to reclaim the narrative & not give in to hopelessness! ⬇️ Is the tide turning on billionaires? Two political scientists argue in Billionaire Backlash that these scandals could be what saves democracy. How? We asked co-author @pculpepper.bsky.social. youtu.be/LZ9fq7ct4fg?...
youtu.be
Is the tide turning on billionaires? | DW News
YouTube video by DW News
112
Pepper Culpepper @pculpepper.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
We Can’t Know Our A.I. Future if We Don’t Study It www.nytimes.com/2026/09/06/o...
nytimes.com
Opinion | We Can’t Know Our A.I. Future if We Don’t Study It
Just as A.I. is poised to change the world, we’re losing our best ways of studying what that change will look like.
020
Reposted by Pepper Culpepper
Institute for Public Policy Research @ippr.org · 26/08/2026
Almost 80% of Britain’s rising fiscal costs will come from ageing by 2075, dwarfing the pressures from defence spending, net zero and lower migration. We should rebalance taxes away from work and towards wealth, says @benansell.bsky.social. Read more here: www.ippr.org/articles/tax...
24528
Reposted by Pepper Culpepper
Bastian Becker @beckerbastian.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
✊Can populism be a force for good? @pculpepper.bsky.social and @taekulee.bsky.social argue that it can! 👇
173
Pepper Culpepper @pculpepper.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
I was delighted to speak with Tavis Smiley today on his KBLA 1580 radio show about when populism can be good and what these primary victories suggest about the rich vein of public opinion around broader issues of economic populism, not just DSA affiliation. Our conversation is from 1.06.15-1.59.30.
youtube.com
Mayor Cavalier Johnson, Mikey Epps, Melissa Hernandez, Oliver Gilbert, Pepper Culpepper, Lynn Sweet
YouTube video by KBLA 1580
031
Reposted by Pepper Culpepper
Adam Bonica @adambonica.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
I wrote this because most journalists facing this pressure can’t. The paper we count on to check authoritarianism spiked an investigation into the Democratic Party because the party’s lawyers threatened to sue. Holding authoritarians accountable starts with holding your own side accountable.
data4democracy.substack.com
With Fear and Favor
Institutions don’t have courage. They have incentives.
26633227
Pepper Culpepper @pculpepper.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
I’m shocked, shocked #billionairebacklash
011
Reposted by Pepper Culpepper
Alex Hertel-Fernandez @awhf.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
Over the past year, Sam Berger, Sophie Jacobson, and I have been thinking about how a federal rebuilding must center power-shifting, building civil society power for democracy. In @donmoyn.bsky.social's Substack we wrote up our lessons; we're excited to share what we're learning! 1/
36626
Reposted by Pepper Culpepper
Super Shoe @shoe.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
But FIFA delved too greedily and too deep
1019326
Pepper Culpepper @pculpepper.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
Beach reading for political junkies 👍
ash.harvard.edu
Terms of Engagement Summer Reading List – Ash Center
011
Pepper Culpepper @pculpepper.bsky.social · 26/07/2026
“There’s the people who want OpenAI and Anthropic to own everything, and then there’s everybody else, including customers.”
nytimes.com
Silicon Valley Splits Over Closing the Borders to Chinese A.I.
Anthropic and OpenAI are clashing with the rest of the tech industry over whether “open-source” models from China should be freely available or restricted.
000
Pepper Culpepper @pculpepper.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
OpenAI to merge with Hugging Face. New concern to be called Skynet.
010
Pepper Culpepper @pculpepper.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
👇
000
Reposted by Pepper Culpepper
Robin Wigglesworth @robinwigglesworth.ft.com · 19/07/2026
Ironic that Spain, which famously doesn’t spend enough on defence, won the World Cup by only letting in a single goal all tournament.
211213
Reposted by Pepper Culpepper
Leonardo Carella @leonardocarella.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
A forensic review of how the bottom fell out for Starmer - really worth your time. My reading of the polls is that the Winter Fuel Payment cut is a major flashpoint, bigger than thought at the time and than other crisis moments (Mandelson, riots, farmers, island of strangers, Polanski, Gaza).
3106
Pepper Culpepper @pculpepper.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
Looks like we might need a social media ban for parents.
023
Pepper Culpepper @pculpepper.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
Enjoyed talking with Joy LaClaire on Forthright Radio about the role of political elites vs fossil fuel companies in shaping American public opinion, among other things.
forthright.media
Pepper Culpepper BILLIONAIRE BACKLASH: THE AGE OF CORPORATE SCANDAL AND HOW IT COULD SAVE DEMOCRACY
Pepper Culpepper is Blavatnik Professor of Government and Public Policy, and Vice Dean for Academic Affairs at the Blavatnik School of Government, and a Professorial Fellow at Nuffield College at t…
021
Pepper Culpepper @pculpepper.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
As both a democracy defender and a practical pessimist, it is clear that I am no fun at parties. @soumayakeynes.ft.com trenchant analysis of the identity politics of billionaire taxes.
012
Pepper Culpepper @pculpepper.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
Comedy gold on the SpaceX business model 🤣🤣🤣. Coming soon to a pension plan someone you love depends on.
000
Reposted by Pepper Culpepper
Nieman Lab @niemanlab.org · 07/07/2026
Rebuild Local News’ Matt Pearce is trying to help journalists and lawmakers speak the same language www.niemanlab.org/2026/07/rebu...
niemanlab.org
Rebuild Local News’ Matt Pearce is trying to help journalists and lawmakers speak the same language
"In the local journalism world, we are not super-duper experts at the political process."
064
Pepper Culpepper @pculpepper.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
This may be the wake-up call we’ve been waiting for.
010
Reposted by Pepper Culpepper
Jae-Hee Jung @jaeheejung.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
I had the pleasure of speaking on @andyluttrell.bsky.social's fantastic podcast, Opinion Science.🎙️ We discuss my book on moral rhetoric & studies of morality in political science and psychology more generally. Andy's podcast is a fabulous source for learning and entertainment. I highly recommend! 👏
opinionsciencepodcast.com
Episode 118: Making Moral Arguments with Jae-Hee Jung – Opinion Science Podcast
1124
Pepper Culpepper @pculpepper.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
It’s not exactly Profiles in Courage is it? Good on @guychazan.bsky.social and @financialtimes.com for putting things on perspective.
000
Pepper Culpepper @pculpepper.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
Interesting discussion about responsibility and accountability of elites at the Rencontres Économiques, in which I argued that we on the panel were also part of the elite and thus the problem. I may have mentioned good populism as well. #reaix
000
Pepper Culpepper @pculpepper.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
At the Rencontres Économiques in Aix, where we finished today with Kyle Eastwood (double bass) and his band playing an homage to the music in his dad’s films. Imagine telling Dirty Harry you think it’s not bedtime.‘You’ve gotta ask yourself a question. Do I feel lucky? Well do ya, punk?’ #reaix
000
Reposted by Pepper Culpepper
Ciaran Martin @ciaranm.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
My friend, mentor and former boss Gus O’Donnell & I wrote a piece for The House magazine on the us of WhatsApp etc in government. Don’t expect everyone to agree with it but we hope you find it at least interesting and thought provoking www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...
politicshome.com
Ministers must be able to let off steam – forcing full WhatsApp disclosure is unwise
The Mandelson files reignited the debate over what to do about the government being run on WhatsApp, which allows disappearing messages and stolen ...
83313
Pepper Culpepper @pculpepper.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
So President Trump is a free trader after all.
020
Pepper Culpepper @pculpepper.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
The magic of markets
042
Pepper Culpepper @pculpepper.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
The job of the media is to report news so that people can know what’s going on. FT and others leading with the $500 mn figure on crypto tokens while Reuters leading with $1.4 bn total income last year. Both staggering, but the varying of numbers like this makes it hard for the public to focus on.
100
Reposted by Pepper Culpepper
Zach Everson @zacheverson.com · 30/06/2026
🚨 NEW: "Donald Trump ​reported more than $1.4 billion in income from ‌his family’s crypto ventures last year, showing how he now earns most of his income from digital assets ​that have benefited from his policies" Tom Bergin and Koh Gui Qing for @reuters.com
reuters.com
Trump reports more than $1.4 billion in income from crypto ventures
U.S. President Donald Trump ​reported more than $1.4 billion in income from ‌his family’s crypto ventures last year, showing how he now earns most of his income from digital assets ​that have benefite...
45687397
Reposted by Pepper Culpepper
Nuffield College Library @nuffieldlibrary.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
Pepper Culpepper says good populism can save democracy democracyparadox.com/2026/06/24/p... @nuffieldcollege.bsky.social Fellow @pculpepper.bsky.social appeared on this episode of Democracy Paradox podcast
democracyparadox.com
Pepper Culpepper Says Good Populism Can Save Democracy - Democracy Paradox
Pepper Culpepper says good populism targets billionaires, not immigrants, and could help save democracy from corporate scandal.
002
Reposted by Pepper Culpepper
Benjamin Braun @benbraun.social · 29/06/2026
Who are the crypto bros? The amazing Izaura Solipa crunched the data. Short answer: Crypto bros share the same privileged traits, educational credentials, and institutional access that characterize elites in 'traditional' Wall Street segments. Just out in SER: academic.oup.com/ser/advance-...
Title and Abstract of the linked paper: 

New finance, old structures: cryptocurrencies and the reproduction of financial elites in the USA

Crypto research highlights the anarcho-libertarian feature of the crypto movement, characterizing the industry as a radical departure from governmental and corporate influence. This study investigates the characteristics of the US crypto elite, highlighting how the demographic structure and the institutional connections of the industry resemble those of the established financial elite. Drawing on original data from board members of top US crypto and financial firms, Fortune 1000 companies, and major policy-planning organizations, it develops three comparisons. Results show that crypto elites share similar socio-educational traits with traditional finance leaders and engage with powerful corporate and political affiliations, despite being more peripheral in corporate networks—likely due to the sector’s recent emergence. Notably, the White House appears in the career paths of both groups, suggesting a shared pattern of revolving door integration into state structures. Rather than a structural transformation, crypto appears to align with the broader elite configuration of the US political economy.
26933
Pepper Culpepper @pculpepper.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
How should regulation balance considerations of efficiency and what citizens in a democracy want? What's the biggest problem in the US today -- the concentration of economic power or over-regulation? Justin Kempf and I debate these questions on the latest episode of Democracy Paradox. 👇
democracyparadox.com
Pepper Culpepper Says Good Populism Can Save Democracy - Democracy Paradox
Pepper Culpepper says good populism targets billionaires, not immigrants, and could help save democracy from corporate scandal.
022
Reposted by Pepper Culpepper
Nieman Lab @niemanlab.org · 26/06/2026
This month saw the launch of The Porter Square Review of Books. The store’s booksellers and writers-in-residence have begun publishing weekly book reviews on its website. www.niemanlab.org/2026/06/book...
niemanlab.org
Book reviews are an endangered species. So this independent bookstore decided to start publishing its own.
“We’re not just going to complain about it!”
0167
Pepper Culpepper @pculpepper.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
Words fail me here. Turns out the deep state took down Nixon, not Republicans in Congress asking ‘What did the president know and when did he know it?’
110
Reposted by Pepper Culpepper
Matthijs Rooduijn @mrooduijn.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
Today we launch the new version of The PopuList! The PopuList provides an overview of far-left, far-right and populist parties in 31 European countries from 1989 until 1 May 2026. Explore the new website here: popu-list.org
popu-list.org
Home - The PopuList
The PopuList Interactive Version 4.0 Static Version 4.0 CSV Version 4.0 What is the PopuList? The PopuList offers researchers, journalists, […]
415477
Pepper Culpepper @pculpepper.bsky.social · 21/06/2026
Happy Father’s Day to all! Today my daughter decided I needed better social media presence for Billionaire Backlash. Behold the result.
140
Reposted by Pepper Culpepper
Robert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · 21/06/2026
Five corporations control 90% of the US media market. Airlines merged from 12 major carriers in 1980 to 4 today. Four giants control 80% of meat processing. The evidence of corporate consolidation is everywhere. It means more power for them and less freedom for you.
31889113455
Pepper Culpepper @pculpepper.bsky.social · 21/06/2026
Daughter got my prickly flowers for Father’s Day. I feel seen. ❤️
140
Reposted by Pepper Culpepper
Jake Grumbach @jakemgrumbach.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
Lastly, some policy responses. There might be some way to deal with common ownership problems through antitrust or reduced state dependency. But seems like the real thing would be wealth taxation www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
nytimes.com
Opinion | The Case for California’s Billionaire Wealth Tax
Silicon Valley’s growth over recent decades has made California rich — and one of the most unequal places in America.
26612
Reposted by Pepper Culpepper
Stephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
Got around to watching this - great fun and really sums up the weirdness of the Craig Bond era.
6675
Pepper Culpepper @pculpepper.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
Befuddled by why Graham Platner's voters shrugged off allegations and massively supported him in Maine's primary? Or puzzled by why elites on this site spend all their time fulminating about his texts rather than his policies? Either way, this oped in today's Guardian will hopefully shed light.
theguardian.com
Graham Platner’s victory reveals a winning midterms playbook | Pepper Culpepper
Voters want someone they trust to change the economic deal
122
Pepper Culpepper @pculpepper.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
‘Willingness to pay in attention is really different than willingness to pay in dollars.’ Cool research covered by @joshuabenton.com of @niemanlab.org on the difference between clickbait and substance in converting readers to newspaper subscribers.
niemanlab.org
What kind of stories are best at turning local news readers into subscribers? It’s hard news, not the soft stuff
An analysis of billions of visits to a metro newspaper's website finds that entertainment and sports stories might generate lots of pageviews, but it's topics like government, transportation, and heal...
065
Pepper Culpepper @pculpepper.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
Want to know why political scandals don’t work like they used to? Grab this exciting beach read for the summer.
0185
Pepper Culpepper @pculpepper.bsky.social · 06/06/2026
Strange political times we live in.
020
Reposted by Pepper Culpepper
Tech Policy Press @techpolicypress.bsky.social · 06/06/2026
States are rolling out generative AI tools to thousands of public employees, but governance and transparency standards often lag behind deployment, writes Javaid Iqbal Sofi. He discusses the sharply different approaches in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Colorado, and California.
buff.ly
State AI Rollouts Are Outrunning Their Own Governance
States are expanding AI tools for public workers faster than they are building governance, transparency, and oversight rules, argues Javaid Iqbal Sofi.
073