Sports, Digital Media & Tech expert; Sports Finance Leader, Investor and Innovator. CO-Host OTT Sports
London, England
Joined October 2010
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Michael Broughton retweeted
Appears to be absolutely MASSIVE protests all across the US yesterday and this platform is so skewed to the Trump/Putin side that this is the first I've seen or heard of it.
Readers added context they thought people might want to know
The montage uses recycled footage from larger 2025 and March 2026 No Kings protests, not Oct 17 2026 Vote Early events. Those were smaller localized gatherings (hundreds to thousands per city) focused on early voting, not the massive crowds shown.
nytimes.com/2026/10/17/us/…
abc7ny.com/post/no-kings-…
minnesotareformer.com/2026/10/17/hun…
npr.org/2026/10/17/nx-…
Michael Broughton retweeted
Superb investigation into the reality of Farage party
Inside Reform: Councillors and candidates' extreme and racist views on camera
itv.com/news/2026-10-14/insi…
Michael Broughton retweeted
When we started responding to Russia’s operation against our data centers, and when our strikes reached Yandex’s data centers, it suddenly became a little easier to breathe on many social media platforms. A lot of people noticed it. There was less hate, less division, and fewer provocations.
Because there were fewer bots. And it’s pretty clear where those bots were coming from – if they disappeared when Yandex went offline. This proves, again and again, that Europe is not the source of the problems. Europe is not the one making everything more difficult.
Most importantly, we need people in America, every morning, when the day in Europe is already moving toward evening, to really see what is happening. To see the truth.
From a speech at the Warsaw Security Forum. (3/3)
Michael Broughton retweeted
Andy Burnham becomes first PM to confirm Russian interference in Brexit referendum
@campbellclaret and @RoryStewartUK's exclusive interview with @andyburnham on tomorrow's episode of Leading is out in full at midnight.
Michael Broughton retweeted
Now THIS is interesting 👀
If disruptions to Russian data centres continue, could we see a significant weakening of Russian bot farms and coordinated disinformation networks?
Of course, bot networks can migrate to foreign servers and alternative infrastructure. But the real question is how dependent these influence operations are on Russian-based infrastructure.
And if the reported drop in bot traffic is confirmed, we need to study whether it’s a temporary disruption or evidence of a deeper structural vulnerability.
Because Russian propaganda doesn’t operate on narratives alone. It needs infrastructure, money, and distribution networks.
#stoppropaganda #stoprussiapropaganda
Michael Broughton retweeted
‘Friday Night Lights’ at 20: Can We Ever Get Back to Dillon? nytimes.com/2026/10/02/arts/…
This is all correct & well stated. What should be remembered is that if any of the big 6 recruited same way as Brentford or Brighton media & fans would accuse them of lack of ambition. Different expectations lead to different requirements. All need unity of direction & purpose
£144.9m. Cost of Brentford’s starting XI against Chelsea. Many reasons for Brentford’s success. Judicious recruitment, obviously. They're so good at finding value in the market place, seeing potential and developing it. Also: calm, strong leadership in the boardroom, dug-out and on the field.
Plus togetherness, fitness, preparation, effective game-plans, pace in transition, set-piece work, scouting of opposition, defensive determination, throwing themselves into blocks etc.
Plus succession planning. Thomas Frank leaves, they know to promote Keith Andrews. Players leave, they know their recruitment targets. They sign good characters as well as good players, including Schuster, Sangare, Anthony, all impressing this season. Plus a culture that helps new signings settle quickly. It helps there is little pressure on them. If needed, players given time and support to develop.
Brentford are a model club in many ways, a family club, community club and such a well-run club. A mix of humility, work ethic, analytics, vision – and fun. Serious professionals who really look they’re enjoying themselves. #bees 🐝
Wondering why games I am seeing in EPL and tonight in Carabao the refs don’t enforce the timing rules in throw ins. One of the better rule enhancements and seems we just don’t care?
Genuinely trying to figure out how this was so quickly moved on from. 2 hands on ball and k lied in the head. Yet commentators barely took notice and seen little sales on it.
- the goalkeeper has the ball under control
Law 12: “A goalkeeper cannot be challenged by an opponent when in control of the ball with their hand(s)/arm(s)”
- the goalkeeper gets kicked in the head
Why was this not a red card for Gabriel?
#ARSCHE
Michael Broughton retweeted
The greatest golf obituary ever written.
During the first two seasons of LIV, I'm pretty sure I covered more tournaments than any other reporter. I felt compelled to be in Indy to witness the end of an era. My dispatch for @Skratch on a tense season finale and what comes next:
skratch.golf/news/pro-golf/l…
Michael Broughton retweeted
The Analysis Series: Private credit, governance and relevance to football financing
Chelsea co-owner Mark Walter's financial empire has just given us the clearest look yet at how modern club ownership is really financed.
His firm's $1.175bn loan fell 20 points in a morning. No default. No missed payment. Lenders just stopped trusting the numbers, the same numbers a federal probe is examining.
If you want to understand why owners' tests can't see this coming, and why the 777/Everton pattern keeps repeating at ever larger scale, I've written it up in full.
theesk.org/2026/08/23/the-an…
Michael Broughton retweeted
I went on the BS Podcast to talk about
- why billionaire sports ownership is a moral scandal
- the connection between the Lakers, Mark Walter, insurance float, private equity, and AI
- the “derivatives market” theory of modern media (the decline of reporting and how “nobody wants to talk about The Thing, everybody wants to talk about people talking about The Thing”)
- how the 2016 salary cap spike shaped modern sports commentary and the Bravo sports fan by making pre-agency rumors evergreen
New BS Podcast w/ @DKThomp — the Sports Plutocracy, Mark Walter’s tricks, Vegas’s 9b NBA team, Denver screws Jokic, biggest 2020s Legacy rings, the NBA’s 2016 Black Swan event, and the WNBA’s avoidable growing pains.
Spotify ⬇️
open.spotify.com/episode/3c7…
Michael Broughton retweeted
Private equity investing in sports teams. LPs investing in private equity, investing in sports teams.
How are these investors going to get liquid if GPs view these assets as perpetual? I have a hypothesis.
The answer: CONTINUATION FUNDS.
I use my friends at @arctospartners and their recent agreement to buy a 10% stake in the Atlanta Falcons for $10.6b, together with the scale of their overall portfolio to discuss how this could work.
Things are moving fast. You’ve gotta stay sharp and nimble.
@gamechangersvc #NFL #PE #LP #sports #continuationfunds
Michael Broughton retweeted
Work to bring back the Expos is temporarily on hold while we start up several life insurance companies
Michael Broughton retweeted
It’s incredible how we are entering a phase where sports fans are becoming (or having to) educated in M&A, tax strategies, capital stacks, and other financial jargon to understand what’s happening to the teams that they love and support. Not great.
Michael Broughton retweeted
Four years into the most brazen deployment of private equity football has seen, Mark Walter and Todd Boehly need/want to sell their stakes in Chelsea/BlueCo.
Who owns what? What's it worth?
Me w/ a gaggle of @TheAthleticFC's finest (plural: Athletes??)
nytimes.com/athletic/7520200…
Michael Broughton retweeted
Looking to understand what is happening with Guggenheim/Mark Walter? This is the most clear explanation.
The concern is contagion. They aren’t alone here.
This is an exceptional read…and somewhat scary. @ttmygh