Benjamin Kail
@benkail.bsky.social
Covering politics including Gov. Josh Shapiro, election integrity, & swing state legal battles heading into 2026 & 2028 for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | Signal: BenjaminKail19.29 | https://www.benjaminkail.com
Pinned
AI poised to play increased role in Pa. elections in 2026 and beyond
The five jittery clowns marched down the middle of a dark city street, flanked by passersby and the blurred glow of storefront lamps.
As their wild...
www.post-gazette.com
“A democratic republic is only as good as the information the citizens have,” Lew Irwin, a political scientist at Duquesne University, told me. “We’ve immersed Americans in this new technology with all these adverse consequences, and no one has a user’s manual.” www.post-gazette.com/news/politic...
Reposted by Benjamin Kail
Many reporters went to Albany, Georgia, when it became one of America's first COVID hotspots.
But @propublica.org's Ginger Thompson kept returning, kept reporting.
What she uncovered reveals some ugly truths about American healthcare.
Read her new 5-part series, Sick in a Hospital Town:
But @propublica.org's Ginger Thompson kept returning, kept reporting.
What she uncovered reveals some ugly truths about American healthcare.
Read her new 5-part series, Sick in a Hospital Town:
As Phoebe Memorial Grew, the Health of Albany, Georgia, Declined
The five-part series, “Sick in a Hospital Town,” pursues one question: Why are people in Albany so sick when its most powerful institution is a hospital?
projects.propublica.org
December 7, 2025 at 10:13 AM
Many reporters went to Albany, Georgia, when it became one of America's first COVID hotspots.
But @propublica.org's Ginger Thompson kept returning, kept reporting.
What she uncovered reveals some ugly truths about American healthcare.
Read her new 5-part series, Sick in a Hospital Town:
But @propublica.org's Ginger Thompson kept returning, kept reporting.
What she uncovered reveals some ugly truths about American healthcare.
Read her new 5-part series, Sick in a Hospital Town:
Reposted by Benjamin Kail
I'm not sure it's in the self interest of America's tech bro billionaires to suggest that we bring back public executions to punish the most destructive people in our society.
A Palantir billionaire just called for public hangings.
“It's time to bring back masculine leadership to protect our most vulnerable,” writes Joe Lonsdale.
This is where Silicon Valley authoritarianism is heading:
www.thenerdreich.com/joe-lonsdale...
“It's time to bring back masculine leadership to protect our most vulnerable,” writes Joe Lonsdale.
This is where Silicon Valley authoritarianism is heading:
www.thenerdreich.com/joe-lonsdale...
Joe Lonsdale Calls For Public Hangings
Silicon Valley radicalization escalates
www.thenerdreich.com
December 6, 2025 at 9:38 PM
I'm not sure it's in the self interest of America's tech bro billionaires to suggest that we bring back public executions to punish the most destructive people in our society.
“A democratic republic is only as good as the information the citizens have,” Lew Irwin, a political scientist at Duquesne University, told me. “We’ve immersed Americans in this new technology with all these adverse consequences, and no one has a user’s manual.” www.post-gazette.com/news/politic...
AI poised to play increased role in Pa. elections in 2026 and beyond
The five jittery clowns marched down the middle of a dark city street, flanked by passersby and the blurred glow of storefront lamps.
As their wild...
www.post-gazette.com
December 7, 2025 at 11:51 AM
“A democratic republic is only as good as the information the citizens have,” Lew Irwin, a political scientist at Duquesne University, told me. “We’ve immersed Americans in this new technology with all these adverse consequences, and no one has a user’s manual.” www.post-gazette.com/news/politic...
Reposted by Benjamin Kail
This composition had eluded me for nearly a decade, but yesterday I was finally able to capture it. A train rolled through just as the Duquesne Incline was crossing over the tracks in #Pittsburgh, creating a picture perfect winter scene. It was worth the hours and hours I've waited over the years.
December 3, 2025 at 2:06 PM
This composition had eluded me for nearly a decade, but yesterday I was finally able to capture it. A train rolled through just as the Duquesne Incline was crossing over the tracks in #Pittsburgh, creating a picture perfect winter scene. It was worth the hours and hours I've waited over the years.
Reposted by Benjamin Kail
🚨BREAKING: The Justice Department launched a new wave of lawsuits against six more Democratic-led states Tuesday — escalating a federal effort to seize unredacted information from millions of voters. www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/...
DOJ Sues Six More States in Sweeping Push to Obtain Unredacted Voter Rolls
Read more here.
www.democracydocket.com
December 3, 2025 at 12:53 AM
🚨BREAKING: The Justice Department launched a new wave of lawsuits against six more Democratic-led states Tuesday — escalating a federal effort to seize unredacted information from millions of voters. www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/...
Reposted by Benjamin Kail
this is just gutter racism
Stephen Miller is now arguing that assimilation is fundamentally impossible and that certain cultures are not compatible with Western civilization
November 28, 2025 at 12:59 PM
this is just gutter racism
Reposted by Benjamin Kail
Territory they hold? You mean Ukraine?
Putin: “When Ukrainians troops withdraw from the territories they hold, then we will cease hostilities; If they don’t leave, we will achieve this by military means “
November 27, 2025 at 10:40 PM
Territory they hold? You mean Ukraine?
Reposted by Benjamin Kail
Trump and his administration have targeted at least 470 people, organizations and institutions for retribution since he took office, according to a @reuters.com tally – an average of more than one a day. www.reuters.com/investigates...
Trump’s campaign of retribution: At least 470 targets and counting
A Reuters investigation documents at least 470 acts of retribution under Trump’s leadership.
www.reuters.com
November 27, 2025 at 11:49 PM
Trump and his administration have targeted at least 470 people, organizations and institutions for retribution since he took office, according to a @reuters.com tally – an average of more than one a day. www.reuters.com/investigates...
Reposted by Benjamin Kail
There is beauty everywhere but especially in autumn in Philadelphia! 😻
November 24, 2025 at 5:32 PM
There is beauty everywhere but especially in autumn in Philadelphia! 😻
Reposted by Benjamin Kail
Shapiro says Trump administration not 'minding the shop' as DHS targets immigrant truckers www.post-gazette.com/news/politic... by @benkail.bsky.social
Shapiro says Trump administration not 'minding the shop' as DHS targets immigrant truckers
The recent arrest of an alleged Uzbek terrorist who obtained a Pennsylvania commercial driver’s license this summer has stirred calls for investigations...
www.post-gazette.com
November 21, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Shapiro says Trump administration not 'minding the shop' as DHS targets immigrant truckers www.post-gazette.com/news/politic... by @benkail.bsky.social
Reposted by Benjamin Kail
JUST IN: A federal judge says one of the Venezuelan men — illegally deported to El Salvador in March before he was swapped back to Venezuela in a prisoner exchange — is now missing, possibly a victim of the violence he was seeking asylum from. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
November 21, 2025 at 11:55 AM
JUST IN: A federal judge says one of the Venezuelan men — illegally deported to El Salvador in March before he was swapped back to Venezuela in a prisoner exchange — is now missing, possibly a victim of the violence he was seeking asylum from. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Reposted by Benjamin Kail
Wow, Bill Cassidy voted to confirm RFK Jr and all he got was this shitty asterisk
November 20, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Wow, Bill Cassidy voted to confirm RFK Jr and all he got was this shitty asterisk
Reposted by Benjamin Kail
Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
November 20, 2025 at 11:34 PM
Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Reposted by Benjamin Kail
Let’s not get confused about science.
Many studies have looked for a link between vaccines and autism — none has found one.
“We haven’t ruled it out” is a logic loop; by that logic we also haven’t ruled out peanut butter, bedtime stories, or blue socks.
1/
Many studies have looked for a link between vaccines and autism — none has found one.
“We haven’t ruled it out” is a logic loop; by that logic we also haven’t ruled out peanut butter, bedtime stories, or blue socks.
1/
November 20, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Let’s not get confused about science.
Many studies have looked for a link between vaccines and autism — none has found one.
“We haven’t ruled it out” is a logic loop; by that logic we also haven’t ruled out peanut butter, bedtime stories, or blue socks.
1/
Many studies have looked for a link between vaccines and autism — none has found one.
“We haven’t ruled it out” is a logic loop; by that logic we also haven’t ruled out peanut butter, bedtime stories, or blue socks.
1/
Reposted by Benjamin Kail
i’m sure someone else has already put this together but fucking wild he called for members of congress to be hanged the same day the coast guard said a noose is no longer a hate symbol
November 21, 2025 at 5:43 AM
i’m sure someone else has already put this together but fucking wild he called for members of congress to be hanged the same day the coast guard said a noose is no longer a hate symbol
Reposted by Benjamin Kail
Crow: "It just tells us everything that we need to know that reminding people to obey the law, reminding people to obey the Constitution, is somehow criminal in Trumpworld and should be responded to with death threats. It's very, very telling."
November 20, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Crow: "It just tells us everything that we need to know that reminding people to obey the law, reminding people to obey the Constitution, is somehow criminal in Trumpworld and should be responded to with death threats. It's very, very telling."
The arrest of an alleged terrorist who obtained a Pennsylvania commercial driver’s license this summer has stirred calls for investigations by Republican policymakers & pushback from the Shapiro administration aimed at potential flaws in a federal database.
www.post-gazette.com/news/politic...
www.post-gazette.com/news/politic...
Shapiro says Trump administration not 'minding the shop' as DHS targets immigrant truckers
The recent arrest of an alleged Uzbek terrorist who obtained a Pennsylvania commercial driver’s license this summer has stirred calls for investigations...
www.post-gazette.com
November 20, 2025 at 10:53 PM
The arrest of an alleged terrorist who obtained a Pennsylvania commercial driver’s license this summer has stirred calls for investigations by Republican policymakers & pushback from the Shapiro administration aimed at potential flaws in a federal database.
www.post-gazette.com/news/politic...
www.post-gazette.com/news/politic...
Reposted by Benjamin Kail
EPSTEIN BOMBSHELL: my staff is releasing a new report showing JPMorgan Chase executives – all the way to the top – enabled Epstein's sex trafficking operation. You're going to want to read this.
Wyden Presses for Investigation Into JPMorgan Chase and Epstein
www.nytimes.com
November 20, 2025 at 3:26 PM
EPSTEIN BOMBSHELL: my staff is releasing a new report showing JPMorgan Chase executives – all the way to the top – enabled Epstein's sex trafficking operation. You're going to want to read this.
Reposted by Benjamin Kail
Breaking: The House voted unanimously, 426-0, to strip a provision in the funding bill that allowed senators to sue the government for $500K if their phone data was searched without their knowledge.
The provision was designed for GOP senators to sue over the Jack Smith investigation.
The provision was designed for GOP senators to sue over the Jack Smith investigation.
November 20, 2025 at 3:00 AM
Breaking: The House voted unanimously, 426-0, to strip a provision in the funding bill that allowed senators to sue the government for $500K if their phone data was searched without their knowledge.
The provision was designed for GOP senators to sue over the Jack Smith investigation.
The provision was designed for GOP senators to sue over the Jack Smith investigation.
Reposted by Benjamin Kail
RFK Jr. says other nations should follow the US lead & bar thimerosal in #vaccines. The preservative safeguards multi-dose vials, a key tool for vaccination drives in many countries. Experts don't think it will happen, but worry that disinformation could take root. www.statnews.com/2025/11/19/r...
RFK Jr.’s warnings on thimerosal in vaccines threaten to instill doubt overseas, experts fear
Health secretary RFK Jr. wants other countries to ban the use of the preservative thimerosal in vaccines, despite research showing it is a safe ingredient.
www.statnews.com
November 19, 2025 at 4:21 PM
RFK Jr. says other nations should follow the US lead & bar thimerosal in #vaccines. The preservative safeguards multi-dose vials, a key tool for vaccination drives in many countries. Experts don't think it will happen, but worry that disinformation could take root. www.statnews.com/2025/11/19/r...
Reposted by Benjamin Kail
BREAKING: Prosecutors in the Comey case just told the judge that they’re under orders from the Deputy Attorney Generals’s office not to disclose whether career prosecutors wrote a memo recommending *against* indicting Comey prior to Halligan going to the grand jury.
November 19, 2025 at 3:51 PM
BREAKING: Prosecutors in the Comey case just told the judge that they’re under orders from the Deputy Attorney Generals’s office not to disclose whether career prosecutors wrote a memo recommending *against* indicting Comey prior to Halligan going to the grand jury.
Reposted by Benjamin Kail
Source: this wonderful remembrance of Bennet by Nick Paumgarten www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
John Bennet, Enemy of the “Blah Blah Blah”
“An editor is like a shrink,” was one of many Bennetisms. He was that, and a lot more.
www.newyorker.com
November 18, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Source: this wonderful remembrance of Bennet by Nick Paumgarten www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
Recycling Lead for U.S. Car Batteries Is Poisoning People www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
The Auto Industry’s Lead Recycling Program is Poisoning People
We documented the toxic fallout of a green technology.
www.nytimes.com
November 18, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Recycling Lead for U.S. Car Batteries Is Poisoning People www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Reposted by Benjamin Kail
NEW: When Andrew Tate landed in the US, Customs & Border Protection seized his electronic devices. But @propublica.org found that a White House official told DHS to return the devices, emphasizing that the request came from the White House.
By @robert-faturechi.bsky.social & Avi Asher-Schapiro
By @robert-faturechi.bsky.social & Avi Asher-Schapiro
The White House Intervened on Behalf of Accused Sex Trafficker Andrew Tate During a Federal Investigation
Federal authorities were chided for seizing electronic devices from Tate and his brother, and told to return them, records and interviews show. Experts said the intervention was highly inappropriate.
www.propublica.org
November 18, 2025 at 11:31 AM
NEW: When Andrew Tate landed in the US, Customs & Border Protection seized his electronic devices. But @propublica.org found that a White House official told DHS to return the devices, emphasizing that the request came from the White House.
By @robert-faturechi.bsky.social & Avi Asher-Schapiro
By @robert-faturechi.bsky.social & Avi Asher-Schapiro
Reposted by Benjamin Kail
Massie: "The president has been saying this is a hoax. Well, he's just now decided to investigate a hoax, if it's a hoax. And I have another concern about these investigations he's announced. If they have ongoing investigations, those documents can't be released. So this might be a big smokescreen."
November 16, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Massie: "The president has been saying this is a hoax. Well, he's just now decided to investigate a hoax, if it's a hoax. And I have another concern about these investigations he's announced. If they have ongoing investigations, those documents can't be released. So this might be a big smokescreen."