Robert Smith
@bondhack.ft.com
Financial Investigations Editor at the Financial Times.
Have a tip? Email: [email protected] / [email protected] | Signal: robert_smith_ft.55
Have a tip? Email: [email protected] / [email protected] | Signal: robert_smith_ft.55
Pinned
Robert Smith
@bondhack.ft.com
· 23d
Some professional news: I have shifted into a new role at the FT as the paper’s Financial Investigations Editor.
I’ll have even more scope to dig into the less salubrious nooks and corners of financial markets, while doing my best to follow the money on a broader range of subjects.
I’ll have even more scope to dig into the less salubrious nooks and corners of financial markets, while doing my best to follow the money on a broader range of subjects.
Reposted by Robert Smith
A big new story from us: a big new leak means that we can put numbers on the scale of A7 -- the Kremlin's huge money-laundering machine. $6.9bn laundered through the international banking system via SWIFT, with $1.1bn sent to StanChart alone. www.ft.com/content/3848...
Kremlin-backed forgery scheme moved $6.9bn through global banks
FT finds thousands of Russian payments handled by Standard Chartered, Citigroup and other international groups in vast leak from inside fintech A7
www.ft.com
September 21, 2026 at 8:10 PM
A big new story from us: a big new leak means that we can put numbers on the scale of A7 -- the Kremlin's huge money-laundering machine. $6.9bn laundered through the international banking system via SWIFT, with $1.1bn sent to StanChart alone. www.ft.com/content/3848...
Chris Spargo’s video earlier this year on British bins was such a delightful examination of a ubiquitous feature of daily life you never really consider.
The new follow up where he’s invited to the bin factory is an absolute treat. Fantastic. youtu.be/hbxzhtgDf_o?...
The new follow up where he’s invited to the bin factory is an absolute treat. Fantastic. youtu.be/hbxzhtgDf_o?...
Why UK bins are smashed up at the factory
YouTube video by Chris Spargo
youtu.be
September 20, 2026 at 3:59 PM
Chris Spargo’s video earlier this year on British bins was such a delightful examination of a ubiquitous feature of daily life you never really consider.
The new follow up where he’s invited to the bin factory is an absolute treat. Fantastic. youtu.be/hbxzhtgDf_o?...
The new follow up where he’s invited to the bin factory is an absolute treat. Fantastic. youtu.be/hbxzhtgDf_o?...
Reposted by Robert Smith
Reposted by Robert Smith
Ben Delo is many things: a crypto billionaire, a Reform mega-donor and a free speech advocate.
@oilsheppard.bsky.social and I discovered he's also the landlord of a bankrupt academic after funding her failed libel claim against a Jewish artist who complained of antisemism www.ft.com/content/21aa...
@oilsheppard.bsky.social and I discovered he's also the landlord of a bankrupt academic after funding her failed libel claim against a Jewish artist who complained of antisemism www.ft.com/content/21aa...
Reform UK’s mega-donor backed a friend’s libel claim. Now he controls her home
Crypto billionaire Ben Delo loaned more than £300,000 to former academic Nina Power
www.ft.com
September 17, 2026 at 8:41 PM
Ben Delo is many things: a crypto billionaire, a Reform mega-donor and a free speech advocate.
@oilsheppard.bsky.social and I discovered he's also the landlord of a bankrupt academic after funding her failed libel claim against a Jewish artist who complained of antisemism www.ft.com/content/21aa...
@oilsheppard.bsky.social and I discovered he's also the landlord of a bankrupt academic after funding her failed libel claim against a Jewish artist who complained of antisemism www.ft.com/content/21aa...
"Yes, humanity got destroyed. But for a beautiful moment in time we created a lot more LinkedIn posts."
alignment.openai.com/misalignment...
alignment.openai.com/misalignment...
September 17, 2026 at 9:12 PM
"Yes, humanity got destroyed. But for a beautiful moment in time we created a lot more LinkedIn posts."
alignment.openai.com/misalignment...
alignment.openai.com/misalignment...
Ben Delo is many things: a crypto billionaire, a Reform mega-donor and a free speech advocate.
@oilsheppard.bsky.social and I discovered he's also the landlord of a bankrupt academic after funding her failed libel claim against a Jewish artist who complained of antisemism www.ft.com/content/21aa...
@oilsheppard.bsky.social and I discovered he's also the landlord of a bankrupt academic after funding her failed libel claim against a Jewish artist who complained of antisemism www.ft.com/content/21aa...
Reform UK’s mega-donor backed a friend’s libel claim. Now he controls her home
Crypto billionaire Ben Delo loaned more than £300,000 to former academic Nina Power
www.ft.com
September 17, 2026 at 8:41 PM
Ben Delo is many things: a crypto billionaire, a Reform mega-donor and a free speech advocate.
@oilsheppard.bsky.social and I discovered he's also the landlord of a bankrupt academic after funding her failed libel claim against a Jewish artist who complained of antisemism www.ft.com/content/21aa...
@oilsheppard.bsky.social and I discovered he's also the landlord of a bankrupt academic after funding her failed libel claim against a Jewish artist who complained of antisemism www.ft.com/content/21aa...
Reposted by Robert Smith
Reform UK’s mega-donor backed a friend’s libel claim. Now he controls her home www.ft.com/content/21aa... via @ft Me with @bondhack.ft.com
Reform UK’s mega-donor backed a friend’s libel claim. Now he controls her home
Crypto billionaire Ben Delo loaned more than £300,000 to former academic Nina Power
www.ft.com
September 17, 2026 at 5:49 PM
Reform UK’s mega-donor backed a friend’s libel claim. Now he controls her home www.ft.com/content/21aa... via @ft Me with @bondhack.ft.com
Reposted by Robert Smith
For @ftweekend.com I’ve interviewed the marvellous Dianne Reeves and Branford Marsalis ahead of the release tomorrow of their new album marking the centenary of John Coltrane’s birth.
www.ft.com/content/d23a...
www.ft.com/content/d23a...
September 17, 2026 at 8:08 AM
For @ftweekend.com I’ve interviewed the marvellous Dianne Reeves and Branford Marsalis ahead of the release tomorrow of their new album marking the centenary of John Coltrane’s birth.
www.ft.com/content/d23a...
www.ft.com/content/d23a...
Harrowing read; inspiring ending.
There is a corner of the internet I had never heard of before I started reporting this story.
It’s called the “burnerverse”: a network of anon burner accounts ostensibly discussing college sports. But they have another goal: destroying young girls’ lives.🧵:
www.wired.com/story/burner...
It’s called the “burnerverse”: a network of anon burner accounts ostensibly discussing college sports. But they have another goal: destroying young girls’ lives.🧵:
www.wired.com/story/burner...
A College Girl Was Exploited on Camera. A Network of Anonymous Men Got to Work
Maddie Kowalski is one of countless young women who’ve had their lives destroyed by the burnerverse, a loosely connected online community of sports fans. Now she’s fighting back.
www.wired.com
September 14, 2026 at 7:45 PM
Harrowing read; inspiring ending.
When did this guy change jobs from political sketchwriter to midlife crisis correspondent?
September 13, 2026 at 1:55 PM
When did this guy change jobs from political sketchwriter to midlife crisis correspondent?
Excellent piece of financial history writing here. And do read the comment below the line from a Salomon trader who told Buffett not to rescue them!
as.ft.com/r/c4b7d680-f...
as.ft.com/r/c4b7d680-f...
The day Warren Buffett saved Salomon Brothers
‘Our name was rat poison’
as.ft.com
September 12, 2026 at 1:24 PM
Excellent piece of financial history writing here. And do read the comment below the line from a Salomon trader who told Buffett not to rescue them!
as.ft.com/r/c4b7d680-f...
as.ft.com/r/c4b7d680-f...
Amazing how many times Gordon Rayner of the Telegraph has front-run more critical reporters’ Reform scoops this year.
Spoilers-as-a-service.
Spoilers-as-a-service.
September 11, 2026 at 8:53 PM
Amazing how many times Gordon Rayner of the Telegraph has front-run more critical reporters’ Reform scoops this year.
Spoilers-as-a-service.
Spoilers-as-a-service.
Reposted by Robert Smith
Butlins isn't what it used to be, is it? In my day your knees needed to be completely visible to the judge if you wanted to enter the contest.
September 9, 2026 at 5:54 PM
Butlins isn't what it used to be, is it? In my day your knees needed to be completely visible to the judge if you wanted to enter the contest.
Reposted by Robert Smith
The media deserves plenty of criticism. We all know this.
However, one of my least favorite long running lefty media critiques is "Why don't you use this specific legal language describing an uncharged criminal act in a headline?!?"
Anyone with any real experience knows publications can't do that.
However, one of my least favorite long running lefty media critiques is "Why don't you use this specific legal language describing an uncharged criminal act in a headline?!?"
Anyone with any real experience knows publications can't do that.
September 8, 2026 at 5:36 PM
The media deserves plenty of criticism. We all know this.
However, one of my least favorite long running lefty media critiques is "Why don't you use this specific legal language describing an uncharged criminal act in a headline?!?"
Anyone with any real experience knows publications can't do that.
However, one of my least favorite long running lefty media critiques is "Why don't you use this specific legal language describing an uncharged criminal act in a headline?!?"
Anyone with any real experience knows publications can't do that.
September 8, 2026 at 10:40 AM
Some professional news: I have shifted into a new role at the FT as the paper’s Financial Investigations Editor.
I’ll have even more scope to dig into the less salubrious nooks and corners of financial markets, while doing my best to follow the money on a broader range of subjects.
I’ll have even more scope to dig into the less salubrious nooks and corners of financial markets, while doing my best to follow the money on a broader range of subjects.
September 7, 2026 at 6:42 PM
Some professional news: I have shifted into a new role at the FT as the paper’s Financial Investigations Editor.
I’ll have even more scope to dig into the less salubrious nooks and corners of financial markets, while doing my best to follow the money on a broader range of subjects.
I’ll have even more scope to dig into the less salubrious nooks and corners of financial markets, while doing my best to follow the money on a broader range of subjects.
FIELDER/HOLMES is FROST/NIXON for a certain breed of ageing millenial. Couldn't be more excited. youtu.be/GGJSRFWALTI?...
You Can See Everything | Official Teaser HD | A24
YouTube video by A24
youtu.be
September 7, 2026 at 9:38 AM
FIELDER/HOLMES is FROST/NIXON for a certain breed of ageing millenial. Couldn't be more excited. youtu.be/GGJSRFWALTI?...
Reposted by Robert Smith
Police are facing growing questions over how up to 500 masked activists dressed in black brought parts of Dover to a standstill on Saturday. Authorities have been accused of failure to act, intelligence failures and being ‘caught on the hoof’.
www.ft.com/content/f244...
www.ft.com/content/f244...
Police face questions over Dover disruption caused by masked protesters
Up to 500 activists dressed in black with their faces covered brought part of UK port town to a standstill on Saturday
www.ft.com
September 6, 2026 at 5:12 PM
Police are facing growing questions over how up to 500 masked activists dressed in black brought parts of Dover to a standstill on Saturday. Authorities have been accused of failure to act, intelligence failures and being ‘caught on the hoof’.
www.ft.com/content/f244...
www.ft.com/content/f244...
Reposted by Robert Smith
How could an associate professor in divinity at Cambridge be expected to know that lying is bad?
thecritic.co.uk/mone...
thecritic.co.uk/mone...
September 5, 2026 at 8:44 AM
How could an associate professor in divinity at Cambridge be expected to know that lying is bad?
thecritic.co.uk/mone...
thecritic.co.uk/mone...
Amen 🙏🏻
So here's a quote from @pablo.show that applies to not only his Clippers investigation but the best of what journalism can be:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/756...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/756...
September 4, 2026 at 10:22 PM
Amen 🙏🏻
Wonderful FT debut from the great @willoyd.bsky.social as.ft.com/r/96a0200e-4...
Nigel Farage’s merry band used to enjoy conference. Not this year
After Reform UK was hit by an undercover sting, the old jokes did not land as they used to
as.ft.com
September 4, 2026 at 7:05 PM
Wonderful FT debut from the great @willoyd.bsky.social as.ft.com/r/96a0200e-4...
One thing that I love about the film is how it captures a very distinct social setting and milieu.
Lunch at Rules. G&Ts at Mark’s. A champagne reception at Oswald’s. Pints in a Shepherd Neame’s pub in Westminster. Discussion of Black Velvets over oysters by the sea.
Lunch at Rules. G&Ts at Mark’s. A champagne reception at Oswald’s. Pints in a Shepherd Neame’s pub in Westminster. Discussion of Black Velvets over oysters by the sea.
The full Verbatim video also on YouTube here. youtu.be/RugPik-G1Jw?...
My Year Undercover in Reform UK
YouTube video by Verbatim Investigations
youtu.be
September 4, 2026 at 8:02 AM
One thing that I love about the film is how it captures a very distinct social setting and milieu.
Lunch at Rules. G&Ts at Mark’s. A champagne reception at Oswald’s. Pints in a Shepherd Neame’s pub in Westminster. Discussion of Black Velvets over oysters by the sea.
Lunch at Rules. G&Ts at Mark’s. A champagne reception at Oswald’s. Pints in a Shepherd Neame’s pub in Westminster. Discussion of Black Velvets over oysters by the sea.
Reposted by Robert Smith
Europe's top court just ruled you can't see who owns a company without proving "legitimate interest" first
We're going backward in the fight against corruption
We're going backward in the fight against corruption
"EU law does not require the disclosure of information relating to all shareholders of public limited liability companies, including minority shareholders" - the Jautiva judgment from the Court of Justice of the European Union is out curia.europa.eu/site/upload/... @eucourtofjustice.bsky.social
September 3, 2026 at 3:00 PM
Europe's top court just ruled you can't see who owns a company without proving "legitimate interest" first
We're going backward in the fight against corruption
We're going backward in the fight against corruption
The Reform donor sting is one of the most extraordinary pieces of undercover reporting I’ve ever seen
x.com/verbatim_med...
x.com/verbatim_med...
x.com
September 3, 2026 at 8:32 PM
The Reform donor sting is one of the most extraordinary pieces of undercover reporting I’ve ever seen
x.com/verbatim_med...
x.com/verbatim_med...