Black Elephant Show

On this episode of The Black Elephant, Mark and Hyacinth tackle the cultural and political elephants in the room, from the renewed debate over UK slavery reparations following King Charles’s Caribbean tour to the weight of accountability surrounding Russell Brand’s conviction. Along the way, they explore how online culture shapes our everyday thinking, dissecting Collins Dictionary’s word of the year, debating Bluesky’s cultural decrees, and breaking down why local elections matter far more than national headlines.

Watch the live Substack broadcast: blackelephant.substack.com

In this episode:

* The Rise of “Mogging”: Collins Dictionary names it the 2026 Word of the Year—how rapid tech shifts are shrinking the generational divide between Gen Y and Gen Alpha.

* Bluesky Decrees: The hosts respond to Matt Pearce’s viral prompt with demands to bring back Tom from MySpace and completely outlaw the em dash.

* The Grip of “Popularism”: Examining whether social media herds and viral algorithms are eroding critical thinking, and why real change requires policy over populism.

* Justice & Accountability: The verdict in the Russell Brand trial, the long road of post-#MeToo cases, and the performative nature of celebrity reinvention.

* Reparations as Repair: Unpacking the UK’s 1833 slave-owner compensation loan (settled in 2017), the demands of CARICOM and the African Union, and reframing reparations as direct infrastructure investment and formal apology.

* Power at the Local Level: Why post-election anger must translate into sustained accountability at borough councils and municipal offices.

Episode Timestamps:

* 00:00 – Halloween aftermath & why unscripted reactions beat marketing tweaks

* 04:37 – Word of the Year: “Mogging,” flexing, and shrinking generations

* 10:07 – Aging in 2026 & Mark steps back from political social media

* 16:04 – Bluesky decrees: Resurrecting MySpace Tom vs. banning the em dash

* 21:04 – The Elephant in the Room: Is populism controlling our choices?

* 32:17 – The Russell Brand conviction and true accountability

* 40:41 – UK slavery reparations, the 1833 loan, and investment over payouts

* 57:18 – Voter anger, accountability, and the power of local councils

* 01:02:36 – Wrap-up and where to watch live

Catch The Black Elephant Show live every Thursday at 7:15 PM Eastern on Substack and follow for midweek thoughts and information on Bluesky.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit blackelephant.substack.com

One episode in and I am already saying silly things!

Alaska’s election system, explained properly this time…

If you caught me on the 1st episode of the Black Elephant show, you watched me try to explain Alaska’s election system and drive straight into a wall. I knew it cold in my head. On a live mic, my brain served static. I promised a clean breakdown, so here it is.

It’s two systems, not one

Most people hear “ranked-choice voting” and stop there. But when Alaskans passed Ballot Measure 2 in 2020, they changed the whole pipeline: an open primary first, then a ranked-choice general election.

Step 1: The top-four primary

Forget party primaries. Everyone is on one ballot: Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, independent, all together. You pick one candidate. In each race, the four people with the most votes move on to November. You could end up with two Republicans, a Democrat, and an independent. Voters decide who gets through, not the parties.

Step 2: The ranked-choice general

In November you can rank up to four candidates. Ranking is optional. Pick one person and walk away if you want.

Counting works like an elimination tournament:

Everyone’s first choices get counted. If someone clears 50%, it’s over.

If not, the candidate with the fewest first-choice votes is out.

Voters who picked that candidate first have their ballot move to their next choice.

Repeat until someone holds a majority of the ballots still in play.

Your ballot only ever counts once, for your highest-ranked candidate still standing. One catch: if every candidate you ranked gets eliminated, your ballot drops out. That’s why backups matter.

Why they did it

Supporters make two arguments. You can back an independent without fearing you helped elect the person you like least, because your second choice is your insurance. And candidates need second-choice votes from their rivals’ supporters, so tearing people down costs you. Critics say it’s confusing and that dropped ballots mean some voters get no say in the final round.

Alaskans get to weigh in again on November 3. Repeal is back on the ballot as Ballot Measure 2, after failing by a hair in 2024.

If your state tried this, what would change first?

What’s In the Show

* Introduction to The Black Elephant Show

The show airs live Thursdays 7:00 PM Eastern. The hosts introduce their new Substack podcast as a relaxed platform dedicated to candidly discussing everyday human experiences and overlooked societal topics.

* Ranked Choice Voting and Societal Convenience

The hosts analyze the mechanics of ranked-choice voting versus plurality systems, questioning whether public pushback against ranked ballots stems from an unwillingness to engage in deeper critical thinking.

* Delegating Routine Tasks to Artificial Intelligence

The conversation briefly explores using AI tools to handle mundane calculations and creative projects, allowing people to save their mental bandwidth for important matters.

* The Emotional Bond with Pets vs. Children

Drawing from life with their cat, Freedom, the hosts examine whether intense devotion to pets serves as a substitute for human relationships or parenting, and how dedicated pet owners are perceived by others.

* Recent Transportation Disasters and “End Times” Theories

Reflecting on deadly train and plane crashes in Spain and around the world, the hosts discuss whether recurring tragedies point to apocalyptic times or merely heightened media reporting.

* Media Sensationalism and the Appetite for Good News

The hosts address why public attention gravitates toward controversy and catastrophe, exploring the cultural cynicism that makes people skeptical of uplifting stories.

* Audience Interaction and Upcoming Broadcast Plans

The episode concludes with the hosts greeting live chat participants, laughing over their cat’s spontaneous on-screen appearance, and sharing details about future holiday livestreams.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit blackelephant.substack.com