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Craig Aaron

@notaaroncraig.bsky.social

1.7K followers 570 following 570 posts

Co-CEO of Free Press and Free Press Action and guy with two first names freepress.net (No, not *The* Bari Weiss one. We love journalism, democracy and public media!) Subscribe to my Pressing Issues newsletter: https://pressingissues.org/

pressingissues.org

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Craig Aaron @notaaroncraig.bsky.social · 19d

Your pressure made Disney, Sinclair and Nexstar back down. But don’t let up. They’re still pushing for deals that will let them get bigger and swallow up more stations. And don’t let them rewrite what happened either. We all saw the coercion and censorship with our own eyes.

Free Press @freepress.bsky.social · 19d

"Trump's war on free speech is no joke—and it's not over. Carr threatened the licenses of ABC affiliates with mafia-like threats because his boss in the White House didn't like Kimmel's views, a chilling violation that would've forced previous FCC chairs to resign." - @notaaroncraig.bsky.social

'The Fight Doesn’t End Here': Despite Kimmel's Return, Accountability Demanded for Trump's FCC Chair, Media Execs | Common Dreams

Despite Jimmy Kimmel's return to the air, advocates say the fight against the Trump administration's war on dissent "doesn’t end here." They called for investigations into FCC chair Brendan Carr and the media executives who caved to his censorship demands.

www.commondreams.org

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Radley Balko @radleybalko.bsky.social · 12h

The Supreme Court’s majority right wing indicated in oral arguments that they think racism is over on the same day that the vice president defended the “I love Hitler” guy, and that the NYT reported that the current administration plans to accept only white, English-speaking refugees.

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Julianne McShane @juliannemcshane.bsky.social · 11h

NEW @motherjones.com: Nobody in that GOP group chat praising Hitler or making racist comments was a “kid,” as JD Vance claimed today

I tracked down their ages. (Weirdly, it seems nobody else did.)

Eight of the 11 in the group chat range from 24 to 35. Ages of others are unclear.

But… no “kids”!

No one in the GOP Hitler chat was a "kid"

We checked. Sorry, JD Vance.

www.motherjones.com

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Craig Aaron @notaaroncraig.bsky.social · 21h

This guy is going places.

newrepublic.com/article/2011...

How I Became a Populist

My time at the Federal Trade Commission—before Donald Trump fired me—totally changed the way I see our political divide.

newrepublic.com

Reposted by Craig Aaron

Adam Serwer @adamserwer.bsky.social · 1d

Turns out your assumptions about what republican group chats are like is correct www.politico.com/news/2025/10...

‘I love Hitler’: Leaked messages expose Young Republicans’ racist chat

Thousands of private messages reveal young GOP leaders joking about gas chambers, slavery and rape.

www.politico.com

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Renee DiResta @noupside.bsky.social · 1d

I'm sorry, is the Trump Administration talking to a tech platform?

Is it...requesting content moderation?

Today following outreach from @thejusticedept, Facebook removed a large group page that was being used to dox and target @ICEgov agents in Chicago.
The wave of violence against ICE has been driven by online apps and social media campaigns designed to put ICE officers at risk just for doing their jobs. The Department of Justice will continue engaging tech companies to eliminate platforms where radicals can incite imminent violence against federal law enforcement.

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Jayson Stark @jaysonst.bsky.social · 5d

On the 575th pitch!

What. A. Game.

CJ Fogler @cjzero.bsky.social · 5d

JORGE POLANCO WALKS IT OFF

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Siva @sivav.bsky.social · 7d

The “compact” for higher ed is an unserious document written by unserious people from a position of spectacular ignorance. No one should take it seriously. Sadly, my bosses are taking it seriously.

newrepublic.com/article/2013...

Why This Essay Could Cause the University of Virginia to Shut Down

How Linda McMahon’s latest “compact” would do deep and permanent harm to American higher education

newrepublic.com

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Craig Aaron @notaaroncraig.bsky.social · 7d

And another one. Apple is endangering people -- and it's not masked agents of ICE www.404media.co/apple-banned...

Apple Banned an App That Simply Archived Videos of ICE Abuses

Eyes Up's purpose is to "preserve evidence until it can be used in court." But it has been swept up in Apple's crackdown on ICE-spotting apps.

www.404media.co

Craig Aaron @notaaroncraig.bsky.social · 7d

Shame on Apple. Tim Cook's commitment to capitulation is remarkable.

migrantinsider.com/p/scoop-appl...

SCOOP: Apple Quietly Made ICE Agents a Protected Class

Internal emails show tech giant used anti-hate-speech rules meant for minorities to block an app documenting immigration enforcement.

migrantinsider.com

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Craig Aaron @notaaroncraig.bsky.social · 7d

National Digital Inclusion Alliance files suit over Trump administration killing Digital Equity Act grant program.

www.digitalinclusion.org/blog/nationa...

National Digital Inclusion Alliance Files Lawsuit Seeking Reinstatement of Bipartisan Digital Equity Act’s Competitive Grant Program - National Digital Inclusion Alliance

The lawsuit alleges that the termination of an entire congressionally mandated grant program under the Digital Equity Act is an unconstitutional overreach and strikes a blow to communities, leaving th...

www.digitalinclusion.org

Reposted by Craig Aaron

Tim Karr @timkarr.bsky.social · 8d

The central figure in Trump's push to silence Kimmel et al is now in full damage control, trying to rewrite the history of what just happened, while offloading onto Democrats blame for his unconstitutional campaign of censorship.

Free Press' @mattfieldwood.bsky.social exposes all of Carr's lies:

Another Carr Wreck

How the current FCC chairman is ignoring the truth about free speech

pressingissues.org

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emptywheel @emptywheel.bsky.social · 8d

Make sure you read the report about how Stephen Miller deported Waco's favorite Mexican restaurant owner.

www.texastribune.org/2025/10/07/t...

A picture of Sergio Garcia and George W and Laura Bush. It is signed, To Sergio Garcia with best wishes.

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John Pfaff @johnpfaff.bsky.social · 8d

Um, ICE just coldly shot an unarmed PRIEST in the head w a pepper ball when he (and everyone around him) clearly posed no threat.

For the crime of … complaining about government policy.

Core 1A speech.

With cameras rolling, they’re sniping priests for sport.

Kurt @flglchicago.bsky.social · 8d

Here’s video of the incident

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Craig Aaron @notaaroncraig.bsky.social · 8d

Note also the role of Kimmel-canceling Nexstar (owners of NewsNation) riding along to film ICE-in-action propaganda

Daniel Knowles @dlknowles.bsky.social · 8d

Good reporting on the South Shore raid from South Side weekly here.

Confirms one thing I was told but didn't put in my own piece because I didn't have a second source and it seemed too insane: border agents segregated arrested residents by race

southsideweekly.com/federal-agen...

Federal Agents Storm South Shore Building, Detaining Families and Children

Families were woken by flashbangs and helicopters as hundreds of federal agents raided their homes. Days later, neighbors are still searching for the missing.

southsideweekly.com

Craig Aaron @notaaroncraig.bsky.social · 8d

New Pressing Issues w/ debut of @mattfieldwood.bsky.social on the hypocrisy and dishonesty of a certain FCC chairman and South Park guest star.

Subscribe!

Tim Karr @timkarr.bsky.social · 8d

Last week Trump lackey Brendan Carr, went into full damage control before a panel of disbelieving journalists.

But no amount of dodging and dishonesty could save Carr from the truth, or salvage his reputation as Trump's go-to censor at the FCC.

@mattfieldwood.bsky.social has the receipts:

Another Carr Wreck

How the current FCC chairman is ignoring the truth about free speech

pressingissues.org

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Craig Aaron @notaaroncraig.bsky.social · 8d

In case there’s still any confusion between what I do and whatever the hell just happened over at Bari W.’s FreeBS

h/t @timkarr.bsky.social

www.freepress.net/blog/this-fr...

What's in a Name: This Free Press Isn't 'The' Free Press

While Bari Weiss borrowed our name, our two organizations could not be more different. Here’s why.

www.freepress.net

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Ada Palmer @adapalmer.bsky.social · 9d

I see pieces like this a lot, often w/ a spin of lamenting cultural degeneration, but reading is a LABOR issue, it’s declined because so many people are working overtime or two jobs & employers expect after hours work. France has Earth’s highest reading rate b/c long lunch breaks & labor protections

After Dinner Conversation® @afterdinnerconversation.com · 9d

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Old White Nepo Hat @kenwhite.bsky.social · 9d

It’s important to flood social media and news channels with news about how ICE lies, so that potential jurors see it.

Chicago Sun-Times @chicago.suntimes.com · 9d

Body-camera video appears to contradict the government’s claim that Marimar Martinez, 30, drove toward officers before one of them opened fire at her late Saturday morning in Brighton Park, her attorney claimed.
trib.al/9Sxu9IN

Attorney for woman shot by Border Patrol claims officer said 'Do something b-----' before shooting

Body-camera video appears to contradict the government's claim that Marimar Martinez, 30, drove toward officers before one of them opened fire at her late Saturday morning in Brighton Park, her attorney claimed. A judge ordered Martinez and a co-defendant released pending trial.

trib.al

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Craig Aaron @notaaroncraig.bsky.social · 9d

The real @freepress.bsky.social will never be bought by an Ellison, a Murdoch or a Musk.

act.freepress.net/donate/suppo...

Help Free Press keep up the fight with a donation

Your contribution today powers critical work on digital privacy, disinformation, Net Neutrality and so much more.

act.freepress.net

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Justin Hendrix @justinhendrix.bsky.social · 11d

New on @techpolicypress.bsky.social from @freepress.bsky.social advocacy director @ruddock.bsky.social:

Amidst a violent crackdown, the Trump administration has set its sights on anyone monitoring its expanding immigration enforcement operations—and it’s turning to major tech companies to help:

Amidst Violent Immigration Raids, DHS Turns to Big Tech to Silence Dissent | TechPolicy.Press

Free Press advocacy director Jenna Ruddock says the Trump administration is targeting anyone monitoring its expanding immigration enforcement operations.

www.techpolicy.press

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Nora Benavidez @attorneynora.bsky.social · 12d

Mario was simply doing his job as a reporter when police targeted him. He was detained 108+ days, muzzled by the admin. Today, the US govt is deporting him to El Salvador, which he fled for safety reasons. This chilling practice seeks to silence dissent & truth. www.democracynow.org/2025/10/3/ma...

Prominent Atlanta Journalist Faces Deportation After Covering Anti-Trump Protest

The Spanish-language journalist Mario Guevara may be deported to El Salvador as soon as today despite holding work authorization in the United States and never having been charged with a crime. Guevar...

www.democracynow.org

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jenna ruddock @ruddock.bsky.social · 12d

the Trump admin just deported an award-winning journalist known for his reporting on ICE and got Apple to block ICE-spotter apps — all while churning out highly-produced social media content from violent ICE raids in Chicago. it’s their media or no media. www.techpolicy.press/amidst-viole...

Amidst Violent Immigration Raids, DHS Turns to Big Tech to Silence Dissent | TechPolicy.Press

Free Press advocacy director Jenna Ruddock says the Trump administration is targeting anyone monitoring its expanding immigration enforcement operations.

www.techpolicy.press

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Jameel Jaffer @jameeljaffer.bsky.social · 12d

"When faced with actual, explicit, documented government censorship—the kind they’ve been breathlessly warning about for years—they have nothing to say. Because this censorship serves their agenda, targets their enemies, and advances their political goals." www.techdirt.com/2025/10/03/d...

DOJ Demands Removal Of ICEBlock App; Why Are The ‘Free Speech Warriors’ Suddenly So Quiet?

For years now, the MAGA crowd has been absolutely convinced that the Biden administration engaged in the most egregious censorship campaign in American history. They’ve waved around the Murth…

www.techdirt.com

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Craig Aaron @notaaroncraig.bsky.social · 12d

"... while other words describe a specific combination, such as the Stoic concept of amathia, or the intentional combination of both qualities in a single entity, such as demon."

Craig Aaron @notaaroncraig.bsky.social · 12d

Thanks, Google AI: "There isn't a single, common English word that perfectly captures both 'evil' and 'stupid'; however, words like cretinous, idiotic, imbecilic, and fatuous strongly imply that actions are both unintelligent and harmful or morally reprehensible. ...

Defector @defector.com · 12d

Treasury Department has plans to mint dollar coin featuring Donald Trump's likeness: defector.com/treasury-dep...

Treasury Department Has Plans To Mint Dollar Coin Featuring Donald Trump's Likeness | Defector

The United States Department of the Treasury has developed, to the brink of production, a dollar coin that features the face and likeness of President Donald Trump, according to a source within the Tr...

defector.com

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