Exit the Cage: The Twitter Canary Has Sung

With Musk and Trump merging digital and political influence, there's no reason to stay trapped - time for a breath of fresh air.

Photo by visuals on Unsplash

Let’s imagine something together for a moment:

Rupert Murdoch is appointed as Home Secretary, or Mark Zuckerberg walks (palely) into Westminster as Secretary of State for Communications.

Or perhaps Jeff Bezos becomes the Chancellor of the Exchequer, wielding economic control like he runs a logistics empire, or Tim Cook takes over as Minister for Digital Infrastructure, promising to make every British home “Apple-ready”.

It makes your skin crawl just thinking about it, doesn’t it?

And yet, we’re now facing almost this exact scenario: someone whose corporate interests and political power are merging in a way that feels both surreal and dangerous. Enter Elon Musk, who controls one of the largest, most influential social media platforms in the world, and is soon stepping into Trump's upcoming second (dare I say, Trumpier) administration as head of the Department of Government Efficiency. This looming fusion of corporate power and political influence frankly, would make Pravda blush and Stalin tumescent with excitement.

Elon Musk¹ - social media overlord, self-proclaimed free speech saviour and man of a million fannywobbles - stepping into any sort of government is deeply chilling, nevermind the government of nominally the most powerful country in the world. This is someone with completely unfettered access to our data, our conversations, and, essentially, our digital selves, now set to wield official government authority and who has all the self-control of a toddler fed litres of Red-Bull. It's a dystopian nightmare.

Let me not pussyfoot around here: this development isn’t just concerning - it’s terrifying. Musk's venture into politics feels like a modern-day unboxing of Pandora’s wares of unchecked influence, where “truth” is moulded to fit the agenda of a billionaire with the government's backing and his finger perpetually hovering over the “Post” button.

Which brings me to the purpose of this post.

While I’ve cherished my time on Twitter - relishing the freedom to shout “CROTCHGOBLIN!!!” at Jacob Rees-Mogg, dissect the news, and occasionally help someone tell a politician to kindly fuck off - I just can't justify contributing to a platform that’s becoming an extension of Trump’s cabinet.

Now, I’m not planning on shutting down my Twitter account entirely, at least not just yet. The Bear’s Den Community will remain open as a safe harbour for those of you who want to stick around, and I’ll pop in now and then to keep an eye on what the usual suspects are getting themselves worked up into a froth about. But Musk's growing influence has pushed me to find a different way to express myself. My long-form thoughts, analysis, and commentary will now live on Bearly Politics, where I can bring my ideas with more depth and, hopefully, a bit less chaos. For the quick, punchy posts, I’ll be moving my day-to-day social sharing to a new platform where the sky’s a bit bluer, as it were.

Now, one very important thing to note is that this shift isn’t just about moving platforms; it’s also about changing strategy, something that we as a group desperately need to do.

As a progressive community, we have to admit we’re headed into some strange, rough, orange hued waters, so this isn’t just a time for change - it’s also a time for introspection. With Trump’s presidency set in presumably gold plated stone until at least 2029² - we will need to adapt. We will need to refocus. We’ve had years on Twitter to bicker and debate, often valuing the rush of being right over persuading others. I’m no different - I’ve delivered sharp jabs and snappy retorts, but at this point, simply being right isn’t enough.

To move forward, we need to go beyond gotchas and clever comebacks. The stakes are just too high not to, and the times demand more from us than a well-placed, slightly patronising fact. We have to focus on winning support, not just debates. And if we’re going to make that shift, we’ll need to get a bit more strategic about how we communicate. We’re not just here to collect followers or prove a point - we’re here to create actual, meaningful change.

The instant validation of social media - especially Twitter - is undeniably addictive, but the thrill of notifications and winning arguments can often distract us from real, meaningful progress.

That’s where I’m hoping this next chapter - Bearly Politics - will stand apart. I’ll still share my thoughts on politics, but I’ll also dig deeper into how the media shapes our thinking, distracts us, and influences societal narratives. For those who've followed along for my analysis and perspective, this will be a space for more depth and less chaos.

We’ve all watched the direction Twitter is heading, and for me personally, a bit of conscious decoupling feels necessary. This isn’t a call for everyone to flee Twitter - far be it for me to dictate where people spend their digital time. But for me personally, this is a moment to pause, step back, and be intentional about where I place my energy. And if you’re interested in joining me on this journey, you’re more than welcome to subscribe here on Bearly Politics and stay in touch over on BlueSky³.

To those of you who’ve stuck by me through it all, who’ve read, commented, shared, and supported - thank you. The community we’ve built has been a true light amid the madness, and I am deeply grateful for every single one of you. I’ll still be here, just a little less often, and with a renewed focus. As we enter a world where one man controls both a social media empire and a government office, we need to be ready. We need to refocus, adapt, and build a movement that’s inclusive, effective, and truly impactful.

So, here’s to the next chapter. The skies are bluer over there, and I’m hopeful for what we can build together. 

1. AKA: Cissy Spacek, Space Karen, Melon Husk, Elmo, etc, etc.

2. And if not Trump, then certainly JD Vance, which terrifies me even more.

3. A quick note: Bearly Politics will always be free because I believe in keeping content accessible - no paywalls, no ads, just ideas for everyone. If you’d like to support me, you can buy my book, Bear Necessities, or buy me a coffee, but this is completely optional. Sharing ideas without barriers is what matters most.