@htwdbstto.bsky.social
Dabbler in law, data, democracy, and digital comms/surveillance discussions with a side of Alexandria, VA local musings. 🫠
Reposted
If Trump and Musk had a falling out, and if Musk is no longer involved in politics, why is the Trump admin using levers of US foreign policy to get Musk’s company out of well deserved fines?
This is the moment, Europe. Stand up for yourself, your laws, your freedom against foreign interference.
This is the moment, Europe. Stand up for yourself, your laws, your freedom against foreign interference.
Trump administration officials banded together to denounce the European Union after the bloc fined Elon Musk’s X, with some suggesting a US response is warranted, Cristiano Lima-Strong reports: www.techpolicy.press/trump-admini...
Trump Administration Locks Arms with Musk’s X Against EU Tech Enforcement | TechPolicy.Press
Senior Trump administration officials banded together against the EU for fining Elon Musk's X on transparency grounds.
www.techpolicy.press
December 6, 2025 at 12:21 AM
If Trump and Musk had a falling out, and if Musk is no longer involved in politics, why is the Trump admin using levers of US foreign policy to get Musk’s company out of well deserved fines?
This is the moment, Europe. Stand up for yourself, your laws, your freedom against foreign interference.
This is the moment, Europe. Stand up for yourself, your laws, your freedom against foreign interference.
Well this pairs nicely with today’s snow…
December 6, 2025 at 1:16 AM
Well this pairs nicely with today’s snow…
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What it will NOT mean is that suddenly the Roberts Court will have moderated. It is not moderating. It’s pursuing its own antidemocratic agenda to perpetuate Republican power well beyond his own time in office, and sides with Trump when his own empowerment and the issues he creates serve that agenda
December 5, 2025 at 7:12 PM
What it will NOT mean is that suddenly the Roberts Court will have moderated. It is not moderating. It’s pursuing its own antidemocratic agenda to perpetuate Republican power well beyond his own time in office, and sides with Trump when his own empowerment and the issues he creates serve that agenda
Reposted
Mandatory online age authentication makes almost everyone worse off--except age authentication vendors, who will celebrate their concern about children's welfare at their black-tie industry awards gala + after-party (seats cost 250£ & up; photos cost extra) 🤮
events.ringcentral.com/events/indus...
events.ringcentral.com/events/indus...
December 5, 2025 at 12:22 AM
Mandatory online age authentication makes almost everyone worse off--except age authentication vendors, who will celebrate their concern about children's welfare at their black-tie industry awards gala + after-party (seats cost 250£ & up; photos cost extra) 🤮
events.ringcentral.com/events/indus...
events.ringcentral.com/events/indus...
👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
@markwarner.bsky.social - care to agree as it seems you want people to vote for you in 2026? Your usual milk toast bi-partisan stance is not going to cut it this cycle…
@markwarner.bsky.social - care to agree as it seems you want people to vote for you in 2026? Your usual milk toast bi-partisan stance is not going to cut it this cycle…
Roberts, Thomas, Alito, Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, and Barrett are bad-faith actors who abuse SCOTUS power to support Republican policies, Republican billionaires, and Republican political power in defiance of law.
They won’t stop until we expand the court.
They won’t stop until we expand the court.
December 5, 2025 at 12:12 AM
👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
@markwarner.bsky.social - care to agree as it seems you want people to vote for you in 2026? Your usual milk toast bi-partisan stance is not going to cut it this cycle…
@markwarner.bsky.social - care to agree as it seems you want people to vote for you in 2026? Your usual milk toast bi-partisan stance is not going to cut it this cycle…
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New: AI chatbots can change voters' minds, according to a pair of in-depth studies published just now in Science and Nature.
How they do it is interesting — and concerning. Gift link: wapo.st/49RSstP
How they do it is interesting — and concerning. Gift link: wapo.st/49RSstP
Voters’ minds are hard to change. AI chatbots are surprisingly good at it.
New research suggests AI chatbots can shift people’s political views more effectively than campaign ads on TV.
wapo.st
December 4, 2025 at 7:07 PM
New: AI chatbots can change voters' minds, according to a pair of in-depth studies published just now in Science and Nature.
How they do it is interesting — and concerning. Gift link: wapo.st/49RSstP
How they do it is interesting — and concerning. Gift link: wapo.st/49RSstP
For anyone looking to dig a bit deeper than reaction bait-level awareness, this (especially the last few minutes) was a good discussion on what’s going on behind today’s Econ-related headlines: upcoming Fed changes, Costco tariffs litigation, AI bubble causes, etc. Worth listening!
an hour from now, pls join me in conversation with Nobel Prize winner @paulkrugman as we talk about the Trump economy and zombie Republican policies. we'll take your questions.
open.substack.com/live-stream/...
open.substack.com/live-stream/...
LIVE SOON: talking with Paul Krugman about the Trump economy and zombie Republican policies
Starting Dec 4 at 2:00 PM EST
open.substack.com
December 4, 2025 at 7:44 PM
For anyone looking to dig a bit deeper than reaction bait-level awareness, this (especially the last few minutes) was a good discussion on what’s going on behind today’s Econ-related headlines: upcoming Fed changes, Costco tariffs litigation, AI bubble causes, etc. Worth listening!
Reposted
If after we blow your boat up you still float, you are a witch, so we can kill you. If you drown you are not a witch.
December 4, 2025 at 2:39 AM
If after we blow your boat up you still float, you are a witch, so we can kill you. If you drown you are not a witch.
Reporting by @ryanbelmore.bsky.social at the new Alexandria brief has been amazing! Highly recommend following and supporting for fabulous local Alexandria, VA journalism!
What's happening in Alexandria - Monday, December 1
What's happening in Alexandria - Monday, December 1
Your guide to events, meetings, and entertainment in Alexandria
dlvr.it
December 2, 2025 at 1:43 AM
Reporting by @ryanbelmore.bsky.social at the new Alexandria brief has been amazing! Highly recommend following and supporting for fabulous local Alexandria, VA journalism!
Reposted
Which Alexandria nonprofits are you supporting or encouraging people to help on #GivingTuesday?
December 2, 2025 at 12:14 AM
Which Alexandria nonprofits are you supporting or encouraging people to help on #GivingTuesday?
Reposted
An ongoing concern of mine is not that GenAI will replace teachers but the technology will - as described in the article - deskill teachers "under the banner of efficiency" while also providing those in power with means to deprofessionalize teachers too.
We can't really say this enough...
> Anastasia Berg [at UCL Irvine] said that new research — and what she's hearing directly from colleagues across various industries — shows that employees who heavily rely on AI are losing core skills at a startling rate.
www.businessinsider.com/ai-tools-are...
> Anastasia Berg [at UCL Irvine] said that new research — and what she's hearing directly from colleagues across various industries — shows that employees who heavily rely on AI are losing core skills at a startling rate.
www.businessinsider.com/ai-tools-are...
AI tools are 'deskilling' workers, philosophy professor says
A philosophy professor warns that AI reliance is weakening workers' judgment, creativity, and problem-solving.
www.businessinsider.com
November 30, 2025 at 8:50 PM
An ongoing concern of mine is not that GenAI will replace teachers but the technology will - as described in the article - deskill teachers "under the banner of efficiency" while also providing those in power with means to deprofessionalize teachers too.
Reposted
Headlines like this are extremely dangerous. Because moms of young kids are the people who make the bulk of the vaccine decisions for famillies. And for a lot of them, "reading the news" looks like scrolling past headlines on social media in the spare moments of the chaos of caring for kids.
November 29, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Headlines like this are extremely dangerous. Because moms of young kids are the people who make the bulk of the vaccine decisions for famillies. And for a lot of them, "reading the news" looks like scrolling past headlines on social media in the spare moments of the chaos of caring for kids.
Reposted
Reposting my @cafedotcom.bsky.social piece from October ICYMI open.substack.com/pub/asharang...
So You've Decided to Target Random People with Military Force
Here's why it's illegal.
open.substack.com
November 29, 2025 at 1:08 AM
Reposting my @cafedotcom.bsky.social piece from October ICYMI open.substack.com/pub/asharang...
Reposted
Black Friday reminder: You can support independent bookstores and get great deals without lining the pockets of billionaires 😌
November 28, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Black Friday reminder: You can support independent bookstores and get great deals without lining the pockets of billionaires 😌
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Happy Thanksgiving to my friend Lauren’s badass out of office message
November 26, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Happy Thanksgiving to my friend Lauren’s badass out of office message
Reposted
US culture is just really bad at preparing people for failure.
like, not failure that leads to success; not failure that teaches you a lesson; not noble losses leading to personal growth. just...failure. you lose. you don't succeed. you are diminished and it sucks. 1
like, not failure that leads to success; not failure that teaches you a lesson; not noble losses leading to personal growth. just...failure. you lose. you don't succeed. you are diminished and it sucks. 1
November 26, 2025 at 2:07 AM
US culture is just really bad at preparing people for failure.
like, not failure that leads to success; not failure that teaches you a lesson; not noble losses leading to personal growth. just...failure. you lose. you don't succeed. you are diminished and it sucks. 1
like, not failure that leads to success; not failure that teaches you a lesson; not noble losses leading to personal growth. just...failure. you lose. you don't succeed. you are diminished and it sucks. 1
Reposted
These holiday toy drives in Alexandria are still accepting donations
These holiday toy drives in Alexandria are still accepting donations | ALXnow
A number of local toy drives are still accepting donations, hoping to bring joy to thousands of kids in and around Alexandria this holiday season. The deadline to donate to the following toy and gift...
www.alxnow.com
November 25, 2025 at 3:53 PM
These holiday toy drives in Alexandria are still accepting donations
Reposted
Small Business Saturday is coming up— here's our guide to some favorite places to shop for fashion, home goods, gifts, and more.
65 Businesses to Shop Local in Washington, DC
From fashion to home goods, here are more than 45 DC-area small businesses to shop.
washingtonian.com
November 23, 2025 at 10:54 PM
Small Business Saturday is coming up— here's our guide to some favorite places to shop for fashion, home goods, gifts, and more.
Reposted
Say what you normally want about the Alexandria listserv’s, but today they've been great.
November 21, 2025 at 11:31 PM
Say what you normally want about the Alexandria listserv’s, but today they've been great.
Reposted
The partisan divide has grown, too. The wealthiest 100 tended to give more to Republicans than to Democrats before last year. But giving to the GOP spiked in 2024, with *84%* of donations going to back Republicans or conservative PACs.
November 21, 2025 at 2:56 PM
The partisan divide has grown, too. The wealthiest 100 tended to give more to Republicans than to Democrats before last year. But giving to the GOP spiked in 2024, with *84%* of donations going to back Republicans or conservative PACs.
Reposted
Just saw this today. This is a transparent attempt to KILL DUE PROCESS by lying about the job of immigration judge and stacking the deck through hiring only bloodthirsty lawyers who want to deport people.
This comes after they pushed out over 100 judges deemed too likely to grant relief.
This comes after they pushed out over 100 judges deemed too likely to grant relief.
DOJ is now recruiting for immigration judges by calling them “deportation judges.”
That’s seems really bad.
That’s seems really bad.
November 21, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Just saw this today. This is a transparent attempt to KILL DUE PROCESS by lying about the job of immigration judge and stacking the deck through hiring only bloodthirsty lawyers who want to deport people.
This comes after they pushed out over 100 judges deemed too likely to grant relief.
This comes after they pushed out over 100 judges deemed too likely to grant relief.
Reposted
Zohran Mamdani doesn’t make me, an American Jew, feel unsafe.
Having the Coast Guard, which falls under the Department of Homeland Security, decide that a swastika isn’t really a symbol of hate? That makes me, an American Jew, feel pretty damn unsafe.
Having the Coast Guard, which falls under the Department of Homeland Security, decide that a swastika isn’t really a symbol of hate? That makes me, an American Jew, feel pretty damn unsafe.
November 21, 2025 at 12:59 AM
Zohran Mamdani doesn’t make me, an American Jew, feel unsafe.
Having the Coast Guard, which falls under the Department of Homeland Security, decide that a swastika isn’t really a symbol of hate? That makes me, an American Jew, feel pretty damn unsafe.
Having the Coast Guard, which falls under the Department of Homeland Security, decide that a swastika isn’t really a symbol of hate? That makes me, an American Jew, feel pretty damn unsafe.
Reposted
Breaking: The FCC has voted 2-1 along party lines to eliminate cybersecurity requirements for telecom companies that the commission adopted at the end of the Biden administration.
Telecoms had lobbied for the change. Democrats said it would invite another Salt Typhoon.
Story coming shortly.
Telecoms had lobbied for the change. Democrats said it would invite another Salt Typhoon.
Story coming shortly.
November 20, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Breaking: The FCC has voted 2-1 along party lines to eliminate cybersecurity requirements for telecom companies that the commission adopted at the end of the Biden administration.
Telecoms had lobbied for the change. Democrats said it would invite another Salt Typhoon.
Story coming shortly.
Telecoms had lobbied for the change. Democrats said it would invite another Salt Typhoon.
Story coming shortly.
Reposted
Extraordinary that the Texas government would be so corrupt that it would have to black out more than 80% of its emails with Elon Musk.
NEW: After fighting to keep emails between Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s office and billionaire Elon Musk’s companies secret, officials have released nearly 1,400 pages of documents to The Texas Newsroom.
All but about 200 pages are blacked out.
All but about 200 pages are blacked out.
Gov. Greg Abbott Was Ordered to Release Some of His Emails With Elon Musk. Most Are Blacked Out.
Months after fighting to keep secret emails between Gov. Greg Abbott and Elon Musk, Texas officials released 1,400 pages of records. But they reveal little about the two men’s relationship or Musk’s influence over state government.
www.propublica.org
November 20, 2025 at 2:19 AM
Extraordinary that the Texas government would be so corrupt that it would have to black out more than 80% of its emails with Elon Musk.
Reposted
A concept known in crypto circles as “code is law” is making it difficult to prosecute fraud cases
Mistrial Shows Difficulty in Applying Law to Crypto
Can trades on the public blockchain be illegal if the computer code allows them?
bloom.bg
November 18, 2025 at 12:30 AM
A concept known in crypto circles as “code is law” is making it difficult to prosecute fraud cases